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thedrifter
11-14-07, 08:31 AM
Marine vet jailed on false Purple Heart claim
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 14, 2007 8:50:24 EST

TOPEKA, Kan. — A former Marine sergeant from Kansas got a 16-month jail sentence for falsely claiming he received the Purple Heart for service in Iraq so he could get a special license plate.

And at his sentencing Tuesday, Timothy Allen DeBusk was blasted by combat-wounded vets for staining the honor reserved for those wounded or killed in action. DeBusk pleaded guilty in September to fraudulently trying to obtain a Purple Heart license plate for his car.

The 27-year-old DeBusk served in Iraq but was not wounded there.

District Court Chief Judge Nancy Parrish sentenced DeBusk to two consecutive eight-month jail terms but by law had to suspend the time behind bars and place DeBusk on 18 months of probation.

In court, DeBusk apologized for his actions.

Ellie