Marine Sgt. Hisashi Pompey is a decorated Marine who served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, but six years ago, during a trip to New Jersey, his life changed forever.
One Friday night, Pompey had just wrapped up training some Marines in Fort Lee and headed to a nightclub with a friend. That friend got into a fight and grabbed Pompey’s gun out of his holster, and both men ended up being arrested. Although Pompey’s gun was registered in Virginia, it was not registered in New Jersey, and he was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun.
Last week, because of New Jersey’s mandatory sentences for gun-related offenses, Pompey was scheduled to enter prison for a three-year term on the charges, but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has stepped in and intervened by commuting his sentence.
“This issue has now turned over for the better,” Pompey told ABC7. “And we’re going to recoup and, just, oh my God.”
Pompey now plans to request a full pardon on the charges.
He also plans to continue his education at the University of Maryland to finish up his engineering degree.
Read more at ABC7.