How Lowe

Carlsbad resident Mark Lowe, a Marine Corps reserve officer stationed at Camp Pendleton, was sentenced on May 14 for his role in an alleged spy ring.

Lowe, who also works as a pilot for Delta airlines, pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer. He’ll serve 90 days’ confinement and be fined $6000 in addition to an official reprimand.

According to court-martial documents, the alleged spy ring was made up of Marine Corps officers from Camp Pendleton who — from at least 2001 — passed secret documents from the base’s Strategic Technical Operations Center to the Los Angeles County Terrorism Early Warning Group, a task force largely made up of law-enforcement agents and defense contractors Kroll Associates and MPRI.

Lowe is the third member of the ring to be sentenced; two others — including the alleged ringleader, Colonel Larry Richards — have charges pending.  Provided he cooperates with the ongoing investigation and prosecutions, Lowe won’t have to serve any time in the brig.

Several of the documents leaked allegedly related to intelligence surveillance of Muslim mosques in Southern California; at least one is located in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego.