Facebook Photos Put Marine in Hot Water While Case Pending

A U.S. Marine sergeant with a case pending on assault charges for an incident at his Danvers apartment in January is now back in custody, stemming from photos on his personal Facebook account.

The Salem News reports that prosecutors say photos of 23-year-old Matthew Fairbanks holding an AK-47 while scoffing at a judge's order to turn over all his weapons (there was a photo caption to that effect) aroused their suspicions.

Peabody police then found that machine gun at a friend's house and that person was not licensed to have the weapon, reports the Salem News. A search of Fairbanks' car then yielded several more weapons, all in violation of the court order allowing Fairbanks' release while the case was pending.

The Salem News reports Fairbanks also allegedly left the state without permission and missed several appointments with his probation officer. He was taken into custody and a hearing was held last week.

Another hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Fairbanks' lawyer is arguing his client was duped into appearing in court last week so he could be arrested, reports the Salem News. And further, there's nothing to prove when those photos were actually taken -- before or after the court order, he says.

Fairbanks was originally arrested Jan. 7 shortly before 4 a.m. after a domestic incident at his apartment at Endicott Green in Danvers.

He was charged on multiple counts for that incident, including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and improper storage of a firearm.