Marine Allegedly E-Mailed Offer To Give Up

Fugitive In Pregnant Marine's Death May Have Asked Authorities To Avoid Court-Martial Or A Chain Gang If He Surrendered

(CBS)  A Marine sought in the death of a fellow Marine allegedly wrote an e-mail to authorities raising the possibilities of surrendering, but under the condition that he not face a military court-martial or be sent to a chain gang.

The correspondence, which has not been confirmed to have been actually sent by Cpl. Cesar Laurean, was released by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina, along with a reply e-mail sent by Sheriff Ed Brown.

In the initial message dated March 30, purportedly sent by the fugitive Laurean, the sender claimed that he wanted to open a dialogue with Sheriff Brown to possibly arrange his surrender.

The e-mail appeared to be sent from Mexico, according to a statement by Capt. Rick Sutherland, and the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the message were consistent with other messages known to have been sent by Laurean.

Although law enforcement has not been able to verify that the sender was authentic (in fact, Laurean's name is mis-spelled, hence the subsequent mis-spellings in the Sheriff's reply), Sheriff Brown responded because it may well have been a legitimate attempt by Laurean to turn himself in.

If the Marine Corps wishes to try Laurean, it must file charges before his first extradition hearing. The extradition process could take between two months and a year, depending on if Laurean (who holds Mexican citizenship) decides to fight it.

Brown told CBS affiliate WRAL that Laurean would be treated like every other inmate in his jail.

"Cesar Laurean is not an animal. He's a human, and he's not a trophy," he said.

The text of the original e-mail follows, along with the Sheriff's response below.

From: Cesar Lauren Lauren
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 12:56 AM
To: Sheriff of Onslow County, NC
Subject: Sir , Can I ask you?
Sir,

Can you assure immunity from a military court martial if I come back? , I know they will convict me with no evidence, I cant risk Leavenworth or a chain gang, what can you do for me?

Response:

FROM: Sheriff Ed Brown, Onslow County, North Carolina
SENT: Thursday, April 3, 2008 (11:00 A.M.)
TO: Cesar Lauren Lauren
SUBJECT: Mr. Lauren, Response to e-mail dated Sunday, March 30, 2008 (12:56AM)

Mr. Lauren, Sir:

First assuming the e-mail I received on Sunday, March 30, 2008, 12:56 AM) purported to be from you is authentic (real), I believe it is both honorable and professional to you that I personally respond to your questions.

Mr. Lauren, turning yourself in would be a very positive step, the wisest thing you could do. My opinion is based on experiences observed through my nearly forty years of law enforcement.

Mr. Lauren, you and I have never met so therefore it is not likely you would know how committed I am to being honest and straight up with people, even persons in your situation. I will not lie to you or mislead you relative to your questions in the e-mail I received and you know what those questions are.

My answer, after consulting with District Attorney Dewey Hudson, I cannot assure you immunity from the military court; however, at this time it is the civilian authorities who have charged you and I understand the military is leaving everything up to the civilian authorities. If in fact the e-mail I received is from you and you desire to have a verbal dialogue with me, this is my cell phone number and you may contact me any time: (910)xxx-xxxx) Thank You.

A Caring and Serving Sheriff,

Ed Brown

[speakinup]

sounds like a good enough reason to deny any Mexican the right to be in the country.

If they can go to mexico and escape the death penality, then let them stay there. If they want to be US citizens, they MUST renounce their Mexican citizenship.

[swwils]

Hey ranger1948,I believe that the sheriff is just as freaked out as everyone else in that community.He just comes off as he is either trying to hard,or hiding something.If he doesn''t want to speak to the media,then he just should pass it down the chain of command.

[ranger1948]

swwils
Don''t be so hard on the sheriff. He took an oath when he became sheriff and cannot become personally involveds in cases. He is required to be impartial.

[ranger1948]

The concern over the death penalty is because Mexico will not extradite unless we agree not to seek the death penalty. I persoally think we don''t tell them how to prosecure their defendants they shouldn''t dictate to us. As far as his citizenship people are questionuig how he enlisted in the marines unless he was a citizen. I still think if we said forget it kep him they would extradite him back to the U.S. as he entered Mexico illegally, then we could pick him up n this side of the border and charge him. I also like the idea of letting the marines charge him with desertion since he was gone over 30 days. I am not sure if he would get the death penalty for being in time of war since he wasn''t in the war zone.

[swwils]

I do not understand why everyone seems so concerned about his citizenship,or the death penalty.This man must have done something wrong,or he wouldn''t have ran.His wife is a witness for the prosecution,so they must have a pretty tight case to give her immunity.Once he gets to the joint,he will wish he was on death row.He will be on protective custody,from the prison general population for his own safety.Given the right chance,another inmate will kill him.It happens everyday to this type of offender.

[cozzicon]

"OBAMA HAS DIVIDED THE WHITES AND THE BLACKS. NOW HE IS DIVIDING THE RICH AND THE POOR.
OBAMA IS DANGEROUS"-- Posted by truth-hurts

For the love of God!

These people were united? When? Who called the meeting? I missed it.

Dangerous? To whom? Not to me.

[swwils]

Sheriff Brown is an idiot.I bet if that was his daughter this happened too,he wouldn''t be so arrogant.This guy is an animal,humans don''t do this to one another.I don''t care if it takes 5 years to bring him back.He will get justice in a court room,or a prison court yard.

[ranger1948]

brianbwb
It said he was born in Argentina or some country like that and then came to the U.S. ten years ago.

[truth-hurts]

OBAMA HAS DIVIDED THE WHITES AND THE BLACKS. NOW HE IS DIVIDING THE RICH AND THE POOR.
OBAMA IS DANGEROUS

[AlecWest]

To Fridak - In 2001, there were only 750 non-citizens in the military. So saying the military is "full of" non-citizens is a bit of a misnomer. However, it is possible that he was here long enough to attain naturalized status. I''d sure like to see his paperwork upon joining the military ... and the paperwork he used to establish his green-card eligibility. Also, if he did become a naturalized citizen, he must RENOUNCE loyalties to other foreign poweres (like my foreign-born ex-wife did). Dual citizenship is not illegal, per se, but the US government doesn''t "recognize" it.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by AlecWest

If he was born in Mexico, he was a citizen by birth, therefore did not have to swear allegiance to Mexico.

Same like in America, if you are born in America, you are a citizen, this right is by birth, not the result of any oath.

[ranger1948]

In a military court martial, the rules of evidence are less stringent so finding some guilty is easier. I was a witness in a case against a military member. The state gave up jurisdiction to the military because they were sure the military had a better chance of getting a conviction. He got 20 years and a dishonorable discharge. He spent ten in solitary confinement and was paroled for good behavior. He got the solitary for telling the judge whenhe was found guilty that he was coming back to kill everyone involved with his conviction. He is now working an honest job and says he has no desire to ever go back to prison. He paid his dues now i wish him the best in life.

[ranger1948]

alecwest
He had been here for ten years he must have become a citizen

[gliderider1]

Composante....what in the hell are you talking about?

[justice4u2]

Would he prefer to be punished by being robbed of his 1 peso,bashed in the head,then barbequed in a fire pit?Isn''t he being rewarded enough by not getting the death penalty?Rot in jail or hell creep,it''s all the same to us.

[fridak-2009]

The US military is full of non-citizens. In fact, joining is a good way to enhance the process of naturalization. It is no longer illegal for US citizens to have dual citizenship with another country.

[lorealpal]

MMMM he''s handsome. INNocent until proven guilty. He did''nt do it.

[AlecWest]

There''s a question I have that no one has asked yet. When I joined the Navy, I swore an oath not too dissimilar from the oath naturalized citizens must take to become US citizens. How did this man get into the military in the first place if he swore allegiance to a foreign country (he''s a Mexican citizen)? When it comes to military service, you can''t have divided loyalties.

[AlecWest]

There''s a question I have that no one has asked yet. When I joined the Navy, I swore an oath not too dissimilar from the oath naturalized citizens must take to become US citizens. How did this man get into the military in the first place if he swore allegiance to a foreign country (he''s a Mexican citizen)? When it comes to military service, you can''t have divided loyalties.

[AlecWest]

There''s a question I have that no one has asked yet. When I joined the Navy, I swore an oath not too dissimilar from the oath naturalized citizens must take to become US citizens. How did this man get into the military in the first place if he swore allegiance to a foreign country (he''s a Mexican citizen)? When it comes to military service, you can''t have divided loyalties.