A petty officer accused of espionage wept before a Navy court, saying he tried to sell military secrets to the Russians to pay off debts he incurred while buying gifts for his new bride.
"It was solely with the intention of eliminating my debts that I attempted to commit the crime of espionage," machinist's mate Kurt G. Lessenthien testified Thursday."If I could have paid all my bills, perhaps I could convince my wife to fall in love with me," he said, as his wife, Jessica Pendergrass, 18, left the courtroom.
But a Navy prosecutor said Lessenthien had been saving classified materials for years, before he met his wife.
The 30-year-old Lessenthien said he was afraid that his wife would leave him because his money had dried up.
Lessenthien did not say how much money he owed, but a Navy psychiatrist testified earlier that the amount was $25,000.