Marine instructor guilty of abuse

SAN DIEGO – A Marine boot camp drill instructor was convicted Wednesday of abusing recruits under his command.

A military jury found Sgt. Jerrod M. Glass guilty of cruelty and maltreatment, destruction of personal property, assault and violating orders on the proper treatment of recruits.

Glass, who was relieved of duty as a drill instructor, faces as many as 10 years of confinement, dishonorable discharge, reduction in rank, and forfeiture of pay and benefits. A sentencing hearing continues today.

Glass, who volunteered for two tours in Iraq, had worked as a drill instructor for less than a year when the mistreatment occurred at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot near downtown San Diego.

Glass, 25, was accused of ordering one recruit to jump headfirst into a trash can and then pushing him farther into the container. He was also accused of striking recruits with a tent pole and a heavy flashlight. None of the recruits was seriously injured.

Glass’ parents have said that their son did not act maliciously, and that they believe he was being scapegoated for commonly accepted practices.