A few weeks ago, I received a package from the Army in response to a freedom of information request related to the case of John Mayo, a soldier who was discharged from the Army after a shoplifting incident that I wrote about in September.
There have been a lot of questions about his discharge from the Army after a shoplifting incident, and some of the documents that came from the Army shed more light on what led happened.
The packet included a psychological evaluation made for the defense in his case that says that Mayo was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the incident, but that he still understood right from wrong:
“Question: Was the soldier at the time of the alleged offense suffering from a Severe Mental Defect or Disorder?
Response:
Yes, the soldier has been competently diagnosed by several Medical Authorities with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Concussion. Further, there is ample discussion of previous incidents of Amnestic periods related to stress and the presence of Psychiatric medications with these side effects. In particular, the combination of pain medications with sleep medications such as Seroquel have produced amnestic behavior in this soldier.
Question: Was there Severe Mental Defect of Disorder of such as degree as to prevent the soldier from knowing right from wrong and from conforming his behavior to the right?
Response: In review of the test and interview data, and with particular attention paid to the interview at the time of the arrest, it is my professional opinion that SPC Mayo was not in an amnestic trance of sleep walking at the time of the alleged offense. Behaviors during these periods may be purposeful but tend to not be well organized. It is apparent from the soldier’s statements to the detaining store official and the attempt to conceal merchandise, that purposeful organized behavior with intent took place. I do not believe the soldier would be able to mount a successful defense against the charges using this current diagnosis as a mitigating factor.”
Ronald Howes, PhD, clinical psychologist.
There were also several police reports that gave more detail about the situation that led to his arrest. The first, which was mostly blacked out, set out a basic summary of the events: Someone saw John Mayo shoplifting. Officers found him and took him to a “loss prevention office.”
“Spc. Mayo stated to (redacted) he knew why he was inside the office and he would pay for the items if released.”
The reports said two Zune Mp3 players and one iPod were found in the pockets of his cargo pants. There was also a iPhone charger and kitty litter in his shopping cart. Officers later found a portable multimedia recorder inside the kitty litter.
Another report describes his behavior before he was arrested:
“On April 16, at approximately 1630, AAFES Loss Prevention Detective observed a male subject later identified as SPC Mayo in the men’s dressing room looking around and being suspicious. SPC Mayo exited the dressing room and (redacted) observed by camera that he had an iPhone twin charger in the basket of his shopping cart and various other items. SPC Mayo then walked around the store removing a memory card and placed it on a shelf. SPC Mayo the walked to the jewelry counter and removed a package of weed eater string and placed it on a shelf. SPC Mayo then exited through the store’s main entrance with unpaid merchandise.”
Officers stopped him and brought him to the office. “SPC Mayo then stated that he was being medically separated from the Army and that he suffered from PTSD. SPC Mayo then begged (redacted) to let him go that he would pay for the merchandise.”
I've been in touch with Mayo several times since the article ran. I know that a number of people in the military tried to help him find housing and take advantage of mental health services. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's office also worked with him. But the last time we spoke, which was a few weeks ago, his situation was largely unchanged. His mother came from Mississippi to take his son. His wife was still working and going to
school. He was having a hard time finding a job. They were still living in Wasilla in the partially finished house. I left several messages on his phone, but he hasn't returned my calls.
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