phoney pleads guilty to Stolen Valor

[Mike Fishbaugh]

BIRMINGHAM, AL -- A Marshall County man accused of wearing military medals he didn't earn and illegally possessing firearms changed his plea to guilty today in federal court in Birmingham, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Douglas Lee Weaver, 35, of Arab, had pleaded not guilty in April, but changed his plea today.

He was charged under the Stolen Valor Act with fraudulently wearing the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Weaver, who had a previous felony conviction, was also charged with possessing a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

According to his plea agreement, Arab Police found the guns at Weaver's home when they entered it in September 2009 with a search warrant for property reported stolen in Louisiana that August.

In November 2009, an agent of the defense department's Office of Inspector General and an Arab Police investigator interviewed Weaver about his wearing of a military uniform and medals, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Weaver had been wearing a uniform for some time, including to a Veteran's Day event at an elementary school in Arab in November 2008, the plea agreement said. Weaver admitted he never had been in combat and had not been awarded any of the medals he wore, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The two charges for unauthorized wearing of the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star each carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The charge for unauthorized wearing of the Combat Infantry Badge carries a maximum punishment of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/05/..._to_guilt.html

[Danny C Smith]

Throw his butt under the prision so you'd
have to pipe light to him
I rate a Good Conduct and Rifle Expert period.
And damm proud of it.

Smitty