California Man Charged for Wearing Unearned Military Medals

[abc_123]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,...est=latestnews

OWNED

Wednesday, November 11, 2009


Print ShareThisPALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A Palm Springs man who was never in the military has been charged with wearing the Navy's highest honor.

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles say 39-year-old Steven Burton was photographed wearing the Navy Cross along with the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and other medals.

The U.S. attorney's office said Wednesday that a Navy commander attending her high school reunion noticed Burton wearing a Marine uniform with the medals and contacted the FBI.

Authorities say Burton claimed in Internet postings that he'd served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He's expected to surrender Thursday to face a charge of unauthorized wearing of military medals and could face up to a year in federal prison if convicted.

There was no telephone listing for a Steven Burton in Palm Springs.

[Utah Bob]

Sweet!

[SF_BHT]

Great....... Now lets get more AUSA's behind this....

[koz]

I hope this will start a trend. Perhaps some of the other "Hall of Shame Inductees" should take note...

[Utah Bob]

A round of drinks for the Commander and the AUS!

[Stealthed]

What a douche bag. Hope he gets the full year in federal prison. I really don't understand how you could go around on the internet claiming service you never did and even worse wearing service medals that you did not earn. Not to mention many who have earned those medals, especially the Navy Cross have been awarded it posthumously.

Again I re-iterate, douchebag.

[ZonieDiver]

I was at the Phoenix Veterans' Day Parade today, and honest to God, I couldn't look at all the participants without wondering which ones were, potentially, "posers"!

That is sad. These frauds need to be punished to the maximum extent of the law... and if that isn't enough, the "maximum" needs to be extended!