Intern Arrested For Trying To Sell Files In Marine Murder Case

Lafayette, N.C. (AHN) -- An intern at North Carolina's District Attorney's office was arrested Friday after trying to sell confidential information to an undercover officer.

Robert Paul Sharpe, 33, was charged with embezzlement and misdemeanor larceny after investigators learned he was attempting to sell 6,000 pages of information and 30 discs of files that have been compiled in the investigation of the alleged murder of one marine by another earlier this year.

The files held information regarding the case of Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean, who is accused of killing eight-month pregnant Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach and burying her burned body in his backyard. Laurean fled the United States when investigators began to question him in Lauterbach's disappearance. He was arrested after being discovered living in a small village in Mexico.

The intern, Sharpe, had access to the documents because he made copies for Laurean's defense attorney. Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson told reporters that he is shocked and regretful at the theft, but is grateful to investigators for discovering the leak. He also said he is confident no information was actually leaked.

Sharpe was released on an unsecured $10,000 bond.