Phony Veteran may escape jail time

I've written extensively about the case of Benjamin Terril, the local science teacher who created a phony military career as part of his job application with the Akron Public Schools; as you'll recall, he went so far as to wear an Army uniform while telling "war stories" with young kids talking with local recruiters.

Terril was arrested in September for getting drunk with loaded guns, making threats at another man, and then getting caught up with drugs and a home arsenal that far surpassed anything Elmer Fudd could muster.

He later pled guilty to three felonies and is awaiting sentencing Jan. 28th, facing a maximum of three-and-a-half years but he could also get probation. I've received several emails of local folks upset that Terril's action might not net jail time.

Here's what I do know though ..

Terril's teaching license is already a thing of the past, as the Akron Schools fired him after my first series of stories about his war heroics hit the air ... and the state will likely prevent him from ever teaching again thanks to his felony convictions.

Terril has prior criminal convictions, including a felony conviction for Carrying a Concealed Weapon in Florida and a DUI in Stark County -- cases he covered up when applying to work with the Akron schools.

Now, Terril's fate is in the hands of Judge Elinor Marsh Stormer. With no trial, there was no testimony about Terril's actions that night, so she'll be relying on the pre-sentence investigation.

Many of you have asked or emailed about the "Stolen Valor Act", which is a Federal crime, and as of now, the Feds have not -- to my knowledge -- spoken to Terril.