Haditha - Drunk Marine with PTSD runs amok in stolen truck

The Fresno Bee reports Felony charges were filed on Friday against Marine Lance Cpl. Roel Ryan Briones, 21, accused of stealing a truck and crashing it into a Hanford house — acts he blames on stress from seeing his best friend die in combat and having to move the bodies of children in Haditha, Iraq.

He is charged with ;

1. Auto theft.
2. Hit and run and drunken driving in connection with the April 3 crash of a pickup into a Hanford home.
3. A felony charge of possession of marijuana for sale in 2003

Kings County District Attorney Ronald Calhoun said.

Craig Dalle, owner of the smashed home, said Friday that he isn't buying Briones' story of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

"I've been in the military 16 years," said Dalle, a Navy lieutenant and pilot. "I was a rescue diver; I've recovered bodies. I've flown combat in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. I've seen atrocities, I've seen friends killed. ... But I have yet to go get drunk, steal a car, demolish a house and blame it all on post-traumatic stress.

"He's a Marine and he's served his country in combat. I don't want to take away from his contributions, but he needs to stand up and take responsibility for what he did."