Man allegedly involved in Marine’s shooting charged with pot offenses

Nov. 27--A man targeted in an armed-robbery attempt in Beaufort that left a Marine dead was charged with two marijuana offenses Tuesday, but not with shooting the Marine, a Beaufort Police Department spokesman said.

Jerrit Timberson and Kelsey Dent, who were stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, attempted to rob Beaufort resident Karl Brather Lyttle, 21, during a marijuana deal outside a house on Hookstra Drive on Friday night, Deputy Chief Dale McDorman said.

Both Marines pulled fake pistols, but Lyttle, who was selling them marijuana, pulled a real pistol and started firing, McDorman said.

Timberson, 20, was shot and found by police in the back of a silver sedan parked outside the house. He was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Timberson was a private first class in the Marine Corps. No information about Dent's service history has been released.

Lyttle was charged Monday with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in the proximity of a school, charges related to the drug deal that touched off Friday's robbery attempt, McDorman said.It was not clear why there were no charges related to the shooting itself.

Dent, 18, was arrested Friday and charged with armed robbery. Charges of criminal conspiracy were added Monday, and he is being held in the Beaufort County Detention Center with bail set at $150,000.

Timberson's wife, 19-year-old Champagne White-Timberson, was also charged with criminal conspiracy Monday. McDorman said White-Timberson helped plan and execute the robbery. She was released Tuesday from the Beaufort County Detention Center after posting bond of $125,000, according to the jail log.

Timberson's wife and family will receive death benefits from the Marine Corps to cover his funeral expenses, air station public affairs officer Capt. Jordan Cochran said. How much Timberson's family receives would be determined by the number of beneficiaries and policy elections Timberson had, Cochran said.

Cochran said an insurance company would determine whether Timberson's family would receive his life insurance policy proceeds, pending the outcome of the investigation into his death. Cochran said information on the amount of Timberson's policy was not available.

An investigation into the robbery by Beaufort police continues. No information on a fourth person involved in the robbery attempt has been released so far.

Follow reporter Matt McNab at twitter.com/IPBG_Matt. Related content:

* Beaufort Marine's wife charged in connection with his death, Nov. 25, 2013

* Marine killed in Friday shooting was stationed in Beaufort, Nov. 24, 2013

* Suspect charged in Beaufort armed robbery that left Marine dead, Nov. 23, 2013

* Marine dead, suspect arrested in northern Beaufort County shooting, Nov. 23, 2013

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