DA: Stolen drug money at center of Marine killing

Lance Cpl. Christian William Carney and Pfc. Alvin Reed Lovely are scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Orange County Superior Court on charges related to the killing of Pfc. Stephen Serrano.

In a statement issued by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, prosecutors allege that Serrano and an unidentified Marine broke into Carney's room at the base on May 9 and stole drug money.

Prosecutors say Carney was dealing ectasy and cocaine on the base.

Four days later, another unidentified Marine told Carney that he had witnessed two men, including a mutual friend, breaking into Carney's room, prosecutors said. Later that day, Carney and Lovely allegedly met Serrano's alleged accomplice and drove him from the base to a secluded location in San Clemente. They put a gun to the Marine's head and threatened to shoot him if he didn't identify his alleged accomplice in the burglary.

The man identified Serrano, prosecutors said.

Carney and Lovely returned to the base and asked Serrano to meet them, according to prosecutors. The men drove Serrano to San Clemente, shot him once in the head and three times in the back, prosecutors said.

Carney, 21, and Lovely, 20, are charged with one count each of murder and making a criminal threat. They also face a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm. Carney also faces a charge of attempting to dissuade a witness.

Both have pleaded not guilty.

Carney, an Iraq war veteran from Suffolk, N.Y., is being held in the brig at Camp Pendleton on unrelated drug-dealing charges after posting $1 million bond for his release from the Orange County jail, Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Curtis Williamson said. He was to be transferred to Orange County for arraignment.