SAN DIEGO -- A petty officer who refused to board his ship when it left for the Middle East this month has reported for duty at San Diego Naval Station while the Navy decides whether to charge him.

Pablo Paredes, 23, (pictured, left) turned himself in to naval authorities Saturday after refusing to board the USS Bonhomme Richard on Dec. 6., according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Paredes has assigned duties and responsibilities but isn't restricted to the base, Navy spokesman N. Scott Sutherland told the newspaper.

It could be several weeks before the Navy decides to file charges against Paredes, his attorney, Jeremy Warren of San Diego, told the Union-Tribune.

Warren told the newspaper that the Navy has treated his client "really well," but he expressed concern that the public nature of Paredes' refusal to board his ship might lead to stiffer charges.

Paredes called the news media to say he intended to become a conscientious objector. Several journalists were pier side with Paredes when his ship left without him. The Navy didn't arrest Paredes at the time, saying that technically he couldn't be considered missing until a roll call was taken aboard ship.

Punishment may be severe, as Paredes' designation as a deserter is an important legal distinction, Donald Rehkopf Jr., a veteran military defense attorney, told the Union-Tribune. The maximum penalty for desertion is five years' imprisonment.

However, a member of the military missing from duty for less than a month is listed as being on an unauthorized absence, Rehkopf told the newspaper.

Sailors deemed absent without authorization are less likely to face a court martial than those considered to be deserters, military officials told the newspaper.