LIBERTY, Texas -- Wallace DeBlanc, 41, has admitted to vandalizing the grave of 22-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy Burris, officials told KPRC Local 2.

Liberty police arrested DeBlanc Wednesday night.

"It is believed that he did have a drug problem. He has a past history of drug arrests," Sgt. Sonny Hardy said.

Police said DeBlanc stole the flower stands from Burris' grave in order to resell the stands to local flower shops to make money to pay for his drug habit.

Investigators said the stands sold for $1 to $2 each.

Hardy said, "Once we started into it, we noticed a lot of property had been missing from the gravesite. That's what led us to that direction."

Burris was buried just two days before his grave was disturbed. The Marine lost his life while fighting in Iraq.

"Our family has never felt like this was a personal affront. We've never felt like it was something that was done because of the war," said Burris' mother, Karla Burris. She offered DeBlanc her family's forgiveness and prayers.

"He needs our prayers now, too. And he's gonna have a lot of things facing him and he needs somebody besides himself to lean on and we can just pray for him too," said the Marine's mother.

DeBlanc is charged with criminal mischief and theft. Prosecutors said each count carries a maximum of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The Liberty County district attorney said, given DeBlanc's criminal history, the penalty could be increased.