The Boulder Marine missing for two years after he staged his disappearance remains in the brig at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and no decision has been made yet on what to do with him.

"Lance Cpl. Lance Hering's status remains unchanged," Marine 1st Lt. Tom Garnett said Thursday. "No determination has been made on what charges, if any, he will face. We're still looking at that."

Earlier reports said Hering will spend 30 days in the brig, and get credit for time served while in Port Angeles, Wash., where he was arrested on Nov. 16.

"We don't know where that information came from, but it's incorrect," Garnett said.

Hering was home in Boulder on leave from a tour in Iraq in the summer of 2006 when he disappeared.

He had last been seen hiking in Eldorado Canyon with his friend and climbing partner, Steve Powers.

Powers reported to police that Hering had fallen and had hit his head.

That launched what turned out to be the most expensive search and rescue mission in Boulder County history.

But later Powers admitted that the pair had concocted the story so Hering could disappear and not have to return to Iraq.

Power said Hering worried that his life was in danger because he'd witnessed some atrocities committed by members of his unit.

Marine Corps officials say that is not true.

Hering was arrested in Port Angeles on Nov. 16 as he was about to board an airplane piloted by his father, Lloyd.

The Herings said the plan was to fly to Virginia and consult with a psychiatrist, then fly to Texas to consult with a lawyer who specializes in military cases.

The last stop was supposed to be Camp Pendleton, where he would turn himself in to the Marines.

After Hering settles with the Marines, he faces charges in Boulder - for false reporting stemming from his disappearance and for an old case in which he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary of a Boulder discount store.

Hering's friends contend he merely was climbing the store building, not trying to burglarize it.

scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897