Charges dropped in military medals case
The U.S. Attorney’s Office dismissed charges Friday in Baton Rouge against an LSU student accused of wearing the Purple Heart and other military medals without authorization.
The Purple Heart is awarded to military service men and women who are wounded in war zones.
Andrew Bryson, 31, was indicted in February. His attorney, John S. McLindon, filed a motion for dismissal last month.
McLindon argued that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled recently in a similar case that wearing of unearned military medals is a form of free speech that is protected by the Constitution.
On Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le wrote U.S. District Judge James J. Brady that Bryson’s charges are dismissed because of the Supreme Court decision referenced by McLindon.
“The interests of justice would be best served by dismissal,” Le added.
“We think the government did the right thing,” McLindon said. “The Supreme Court was pretty clear that this is protected speech.”