US Marines leader in Australia replaced over alcohol charge

Federal News Network: The commander of more than 1,500 U.S. Marines in northern Australia was relieved of his duties after police caught him driving under the influence of alcohol, the Marine Corps said Monday.

Col. James Schnelle, 48, pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court on Monday to driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.102 percent after his breath was tested by police in the early hours of Sunday. The reading was more than double the legal limit in Australia of 0.05 percent.

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