Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\tProsecutors: Chief conspired with Goat Locker to steal government gear<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
One chief already copped to criminal charges.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n
Killian\u2019s civilian attorney, Patrick McLain, told Navy Times that his client ordered the excess gear and set about repairing and storing it at his home to use in a 2017 chiefs initiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a case of \u201cgood intention, bad judgement,\u201d McLain said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Navy holds its members to a much higher standard of accountability than they would in the civilian world,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the civilian world, this would be a dumb mistake at work. We understand that. Chief understands that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Killian didn\u2019t tell his superiors what he was doing with all the stuff, McLain added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Darren M. Heppler was also assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 14 and charged with similar crimes in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At a Nov. 14 court-martial trial, Heppler pleaded guilty to stealing military property from March 2017 to July 2017, the same dates listed for Killian\u2019s alleged crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also pleaded guilty to arranging for \u201ctwo scopes\u201d to be sold to a Wichita, Kansas, pawn shop, and a Navy judge sentenced him to a bad conduct discharge, reduction to E-1 and a year behind bars, according to court records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But thanks to a plea deal, Heppler received no brig time and will not be reduced to a pay grade below E-5 or separated from the Navy with a punitive discharge, his civilian attorney, Corey Bean, told Navy Times earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cATC Heppler regrets his involvement in this situation,\u201d Bean said in February. \u201cHe took responsibility for his actions and he wants to put this behind him. I believe the Navy recognized ATC Heppler\u2019s minimal role in the charged misconduct which is why we were able to reach a pretrial agreement that greatly reduced confinement exposure and gave ATC Heppler a path to retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Navy chief who retired in 2017 \u2014 Christian C. Pelz \u2014 was listed as a third co-conspirator on the military charge sheets, but Navy officials declined to say earlier this year whether his case had been referred to civilian authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Killian succeeded Heppler at the squadron, McLain said Killian\u2019s case \u201cwas wholly different from Chief Heppler\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McLain told Navy Times in February that the case began after government-contracted movers became suspicious of a household goods shipment for Heppler that was supposed to go from Lemoore to Kansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe movers thought it odd, and contrary to regulation, that Chief Heppler had already boxed up and sealed the goods to be shipped,\u201d McLain said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen the movers unpacked and re-packed these items, they appeared to be government property \u2026 so law enforcement was notified.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[Editor\u2019s note: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the charge to which Kirk P. Killian pleaded guilty.]<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n