Military Veteran Sentenced for Bringing Weapons to Airport

A former Marine was enrolled in a special program for veterans and put on three years probation today after pleading guilty to bringing military devices and a knife into John Wayne Airport in checked and carry-on luggage.

Gregory Thomas Salyer, 23, of Independence, Ky., pleaded guilty to five felonies, including two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of placing a destructive device in checked baggage, receiving stolen property and carrying a switch-blade knife.

He also was sentenced to 270 days in jail, but was given credit for that amount of time served behind bars since his arrest in August, according to Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz.

Salyer could have faced up to eight years in prison if convicted at trial, Katz said.

The case, however, was transferred to Orange County's veterans court, which provides support services such as counseling to veterans as a way to resolve criminal cases.

On Aug. 27, Salyer checked a military duffel bag at the airport containing a non-lethal, sting-ball grenade, two military electric artillery time fuses and a military fuse assembly, Katz said. The grenade projects small rubber pellets when detonated.

Salyer, who had planned to take a flight to Denver, also was in possession of more than 300 steroid pills and about 10 Adderall pills, the prosecutor said.

The military devices were discovered when Transportation Security Administration staff ran the luggage through screening, Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

Authorities evacuated Gate 21 at the airport and escorted all of the Denver-bound passengers, including the suspect, off Frontier Airlines flight 264, Hallock said.

Military officials, who were summoned to take possession of the devices, said the property was stolen from the military, Hallock said.

Salyer was recently discharged from the Marine Corps after serving as a field artillery cannoneer with Kilo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, attached to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, according to Marine Sgt. Alfred Lopez.

According to a military publication, Salyer joined the Marines when he was 19 and did stints in Guam, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Cambodia and Kuwait.

-- City News Service