SEAL faker pleads guilty in Stolen Valor case

[unhappycamper]

Claimed SEAL training, combat, PTSD
Retired Coastie faces 10 years, $255,000 in fines


SEAL faker pleads guilty in Stolen Valor case
By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 7, 2010 6:41:39 EST

A retired Coast Guard chief warrant officer 2 who claimed to be a decorated and combat-hardened SEAL — and managed to get a disability rating from the government — has pleaded guilty to wearing combat awards he did not earn.

Thomas Barnhart pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Roanoke, Va. to two counts of violating the Stolen Valor Act.

Barnhart served a combined 21 years in the Navy and the Coast Guard. He joined the Navy in 1969, then moved to the Coast Guard 10 years later, retiring in 1990. He entered the Coast Guard claiming to be a SEAL who had completed diving school and High Altitude-Low Opening parachutist school, according to court records.

He also claimed to have earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Purple Heart with four stars, a Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnam War-era awards. The Coast Guard clerk bought the story and added the awards to Barnhart’s DD 214. Later DD 214 alterations would add a Navy Commendation with “V” device, Presidential Unit Citation with three stars, and Vietnamese Medal of Honor First and Second Class.

“Witnesses have stated that the defendant would spin yarns about his secret missions with the Navy SEALs and describe various combat situations in which he was wounded,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig “Jake” Jacobsen said in his comments to the court, which he provided to Navy Times. “As a result of what everyone believed, the defendant was promoted to warrant officer in the ahead of others, likely as a result of the defendant’s stellar ‘combat record.’ ”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/01/navy_cg_faker_010710w/

[T Wolf]

1. This law is one of the biggest piles of bullshit on the books. If some idiot wants to dress

up and play soldier, what's the harm?

Now, if someone lies to commit fraud, that is a different matter. But merely "talking" should not be against the law.

[paulsby]

2. in this case there was fraud

he got specific pecuniary benefit from his lies.