The Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo. — A former Marine accused of faking his disappearance to avoid returning to his unit has reached a plea deal, avoiding a possible felony conviction.
Lance Hering pleaded guilty today to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting. He will be closely supervised on probation for 18 months and serve 200 hours of community service.
Hering, an Iraq war veteran, went missing in 2006 after faking a rock climbing accident in Eldorado Canyon State Park near Boulder. That led to a massive search involving hundreds of volunteers.
He eluded authorities for more than two years before turning up in Port Angeles last year.
Boulder district attorney Stan Garnett said Hering has paid authorities about $37,000 to cover the cost of the search and his extradition.
