Car wash to raise money for legal fees of Marine charged with manslaughter

A group of Marines will hold a car wash Saturday in Fountain Valley to raise money for the legal fees of Marine Sgt. John F. Winnick II, a sniper leader who has been facing legal proceedings in the shooting deaths of two Syrians in Iraq and the wounding of two other men.

“We cannot discuss the case and any details but we can tell you that Johnny did exactly what he was trained to do,” Marine Sgt. Luke Urick wrote in an e-mail.

Winnick, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines that have been officially adopted by the city of Huntington Beach, was charged with manslaughter, assault and dereliction of duty in May, following the shooting deaths of two men and wounding of two others a year prior in Iraq. According to media reports, Winnick believed the men were planting a roadside bomb, but evidence of a bomb was not uncovered. Recently a Marine hearing officer recommended that the violent charges be dropped and the dereliction charge be handled administratively, not in a court-martial.

The car wash will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Jiffy Lube, 8971 Warner Ave., Fountain Valley.

— Michael Alexander