Md. man sentenced for buying, wearing military uniforms, ribbons
A 39-year-old Columbia man has been sentenced to 10 days in jail for purchasing and wearing military uniforms and decorations even though he is not in the military.
Chad Chan Dieu was arrested in August after he bought medals and ribbons at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. A service member became suspicious because Dieu was wearing a uniform and ribbons that appeared incongruous.
Dieu was prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime to knowingly purchase or wear military medals, badges or decorations without authority. U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas M. DiGirolamo sentenced him on Wednesday.
The sentence includes one year of probation with mental health treatment and 100 hours of community service.
-- Associated Press
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Washington Post Editors
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April 8, 2010; 1:08 PM ET
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Posted by: wallacea | April 8, 2010 3:07 PM | Report abuse
Militias do not wear U.S. military uniforms.
And no they're not racists.
Posted by: Etek | April 8, 2010 5:13 PM | Report abuse
1) He bought these at a military installation clothing sales function, so why didn't the clerk follow policy and check his ID card? 2) If not in military, I gather he was trespassing when he bought these, why not charged? 3) The law under 18 USC 704 does not prohibit medal purchase (except Medal of Honor), only the fraudulent wearing of medals in exchange for value; the better charge would have been for prohibited wearing of military uniform under 18 USC 702. 4) Considering the high crime rate in the DC suburbs, how is 10 days in jail for a wannabe braggart going to deter others in the community from committing more predictable and egregious crimes? 5) The trial was a waste of tax money. Pity the prosecutor and magistrate didn't dismiss and move-on to more important cases on the docket, perhaps election ambitions at play? (32-year veteran)
Posted by: williamjones5 | April 9, 2010 8:05 AM | Report abuse
Wonderful. Nude dancing is protected speech under the 1st Amendment, but wearing a costume is a felony?
Posted by: jiji1 | April 12, 2010 4:10 PM | Report abuse
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So why can those militia racists wear military uniforms?
http://abcnews.go.com/US/hutaree-christian-militia-group-stone-family-wedding/story?id=10241476