Palm Springs man charged with wearing unauthorized military medals to surrender

A Palm Springs man who has never served in the military is expected to surrender to authorities Thursday to face charges of wearing military medals he did not earn, authorities said today.

Steve Burton, 39, has agreed to surrender at the U.S. District Court in Riverside. He was charged Friday by federal prosecutors in L.A. with the unauthorized wearing of military medals after he was allegedly seen and photographed wearing military uniforms and decorations.

The FBI was contacted by a Navy commander after she attended her high school reunion and saw Burton wearing a Marine Corps uniform displaying several medals, including the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and others, according to an affidavit filed in United States District Court.

The Navy Cross is the highest medal the Navy awards and is the second highest award given for valor, second only to the Medal of Honor.

Suspicious, the commander asked to be photographed with Burton. The photo was used in the investigation. The FBI said it also found that Burton had made Internet postings about being a Marine and had written about his “combat experience” as well as his “service” in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also allegedly posted a picture of himself standing on a beach at Coronado wearing a Marine dress uniform with three rows of medals.

The misdemeanor offense of unauthorized wearing of military medals carries a statutory maximum penalty of one year in federal prison.

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Steve Burton posing at Coronado beach. Credit: U.S. District Court.

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Comments

[MM stuck in L.A.]

I think this impostor should be put in a room full of real Marines and let him explain himself to them. I guarantee he won't leave the room in one piece.

[sailbyme]

His punishment should be that he be sent to serve and be put in harms way. I'd bet he would take the year in custody.

[masimons]

Ok, the guy is an idiot, convict him, but forget any prison time, not worth the money.

[Sean B]

That's a preposterous ratio of medals (above left pocket) to ribbons (above right pocket).

For punishment, they should turn him loose in a bar in Oceanside just after payday after announcing his transgressions to the assembled Marines. Let them impose a suitable punishment.

[SeanBoy]

I guess everyone wants to be a hero.

[lwps]

Pitiful.

[BruceFromHB]

The absolute worst type of chicken hawk. I sincerely hope that your cellmates will give you a proper education.

[Spence]

Good Story. Good Catch. These cowards need to understand that those medals have meaning, and the uniform has to be earned. Perhaps this idiot will pull his head out during his way too brief stay in the gray bar hotel.

[TheBigPicture]

What an idiot...he needs some jail time...

[Shawn V.]

You can count this coward in war, but not on the battle field.

[WS]

1 year in prison? I say they enlist him and go make him EARN those medals :)

Probably not good enough to qualify as a Marine, but the Army will do :)

[MJ]

C'mon, don't the Feds have better things to do - like go after drug dealers, smugglers, and real scam artists? I don't see anything here that this guy was trying to use the fake credentials to bilk money or things from people. Sounds more like he may be a little "touched" in need of some psych help.

[Peter323]

The only people he was trying to dupe (to get admiration from) were the sort of people who would enjoy seeing him beat up for wearing medals not earned (see comments above), so I don't see what harm he did.

[Donuts2$'s]

I was thinking like the last guy. I think he should be required to pay for 1 yr. psycho-therapy; when we say "put'em in jail", people forget we pay for these idiots. He certainly is a disgrace. I just hope he didn't get laid, because of it. If he did, the woman should be able to sue for infliction of the emotional harm she'll be suffering from the PTS, after seeing all this in the media; that is, if he got laid because of it. That's what we need to find out.

[El Guapo de la cuidad de los angeles]

Hang him.

[kb]

the punishment for these type of crimes should simply be military service, if he's that enthusiastic about the military, then make him serve

[jack webb]

OH MY GOD! WHAT A LOSER!

[pj]

Some guys will do anything to get a date. Loser!

[Giarc66]

I couldn't agree any more than with "MJ" For those others who want to hang him need to chill out on the over dramatic patriotism. You need to be more concerned about our own law enforcement wearing uniforms "legally" that are corrupt and criminal!

[Dave]

Dress him up in combat gear, put a gun in his hand and drop him behind the line in Afghanistan

[Ca Commentor]

For this I waste my tax dollars. Amazing.

[hkhamm]

What!? One year in prison for a costume? Why in the world is someone dressing up in a costume against the law? This man hasn't hurt anyone. He is being accused of dressing up and playing pretend? Give him a break. I really don't understand what he did wrong and why everyone is so upset.

[AA]

I agree with MJ. Don't the feds have something better to do?

[Daniel]

where did he get the medals?

[RichBlume]

Understood that this person found a persona to hide under because he thinks his real life isn't as exciting. But put him in jail and make US pay for his room and board? Or worse, make him enlist? That implies that joining the Armed Services is a punitive measure, or worse, the military is a haven for Section 8s like Mr. Wannnabe here. Now that would be a disgrace to the men and women of our Armed Forces. How about we just fine him and/or have him do community work, like picking up litter in Oceanside? Then let's move on to real news, instead of giving losers like this their fifteen minutes of fame.