RIVERSIDE – A Palm Springs man pleaded guilty Monday to impersonating a U.S. Marine and wearing medals for bravery that he never earned.

Steven Douglas Burton, 39, entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Dec. 3, in which he admitted violating a federal statute that prohibits the unauthorized display of military medals.

Burton appeared before U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips on Monday and, after establishing that the plea deal was free of coercion or any conditions, acknowledged he was guilty of the federal misdemeanor charge.

"You understand the consequences of your plea?" Phillips asked.

"Yes," Burton replied.

"The court finds the guilty plea is voluntary and made with full knowledge of his plea," the judge said.

Burton could face up to a year in federal prison and $100,000 in fines. Phillips ordered the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Department to review the case and Burton’s background and report back with any recommendations for sentencing, which is set for March 1.

"The act is obvious," defense attorney Michael DeFrank said outside the courthouse. "What’s not obvious is my client’s state of mind ... He has expressed remorse for the offense."

The attorney said Burton’s motivation for posing as a decorated Marine will become clearer after the probation report is filed.

The defendant told Phillips that he was seeing a doctor and receiving treatment, though he did not specify for what. He said he is taking antidepressants.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Burton showed up for his 20-year class reunion at Alhambra High School in Martinez, Calif., in October 2008 wearing a Marine Corps dress uniform studded with medals, including the Navy Cross, the second-highest combat commendation behind the Medal of Honor.

Burton wore a lieutenant colonel’s insignia Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] and told people he spent a career in the service, according to the FBI.

One of the defendant’s classmates, a U.S. Navy commander, was suspicious and snapped a photograph of Burton, which shows him wearing 14 medals, including a Navy Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Legion of Merit badge and Combat Action ribbon.

The commander made an official inquiry regarding Burton’s military service and discovered he was not – nor had he ever been – a U.S. Marine or a member of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, according to the FBI.

In the ensuing investigation, the FBI learned Burton had an Internet blog where he "bragged" about overseas tours of duty that involved combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The first documented case of him wearing a military uniform with decorations was during a Halloween party in Cathedral City two years ago, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A few months later, Burton posted a photo online showing him standing on a beach on Coronado Island wearing a USMC uniform, complete with medals and

stripes indicating the rank of gunnery sergeant.

"The defendant chose the rank of gunnery sergeant because it is a

well-respected rank within the USMC," the plea agreement states. Federal documents indicate Burton purchased most of the military decorations on eBay and at military surplus stores, including one outside the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms.

According to court papers, Burton chose to pose as a Marine because he

"preferred the USMC uniforms to the others" and bought a book "that explained what the awards meant and how to affix them to the uniform."

Burton, who actually works in a Internet technology support position at a Palm Springs bank, remains free on a $10,000 bond.