Car wash to raise money for Marine’s legal fees

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.

Winnick, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines who have been adopted by 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. Recently a Marine hearing officer recommended 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