November 1 @ 9:00am. Amarillo Federal Court house – Judge Robinson’s court room
You’re currently reading “Sentencing has been set!!!,” an entry on PVT Richard David McClanahan: Hero Hoax
10.30.07 / 7am
Putting my initial outrage over this guy’s outlandish behavior and overt lies aside, I hope the sentencing forces this guy to get some psychological counseling (in addition to SOME jail time) at least for the sake of his children. I think we all know someone who has exaggerated their military exploits a bit, but Richard’s lies were so absolutely extreme and bizarre; one has to wonder if deep down he actually wanted to get caught. Obviously something is not right in his head. How will his kids be able to look this man in the eyes? This is a very sad situation for his kids and family and all he has hurt.
10.30.07 / 12pm
What does his children know?
10.30.07 / 1pm
That’s up to the mother to discuss. As far as I know, they are aware of the situation.
10.30.07 / 1pm
this hit the army times website today.
A former soldier who pleaded guilty to felony bank fraud and two misdemeanor counts of falsely claiming military awards or decorations – including the Medal of Honor – will be sentenced Thursday in federal court.
Richard David McClanahan pleaded guilty Aug. 9 to two of the three charges against him.
McClanahan, 29, admitted to committing bank fraud and falsely claiming a Medal of Honor, Christy Drake, the assistant U.S. attorney in Amarillo, Texas, has said.
As part of the plea agreement, she said, the prosecution dropped the other charge against McClanahan, in which he was accused of falsely claiming he had three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts and the Legion of Merit.
The bank fraud charge carries up to 30 years in prison, while the maximum sentence for the Medal of Honor charge is one year in prison.
McClanahan entered his guilty plea during a 20-minute hearing in U.S. District Court in Amarillo in front of federal district Judge Mary Lou Robinson.
He admitted to knowingly making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution in an effort to get a loan, according to information in a factual résumé Drake provided to Army Times.
The factual résumé was read in court during the hearing.
McClanahan, who was an Army medic, also “continually lied about civilian life, military career, education and experiences” and he “displayed poor judgment by falsifying military documents,” according to the factual résumé.
“He lied about his participation in Operation Enduring Freedom; he lied to his senior [noncommissioned officers], officers and commanders about his military service, combat injuries, decorations and awards; and he was incompetent and disregarded soldiers’ medical issues by writing and signing unauthorized medical profiles,” according to the document.
McClanahan also admitted to falsely claiming he had a Medal of Honor.
The prosecution said that during the course of his misrepresentation of his military service, McClanahan received $9,500 in scholarship money and $2,000 in donations. He also tried to convince a local car dealership to give him a car because he had been nominated for the Medal of Honor, according to the factual résumé. When the dealership declined to donate a car to him, McClanahan “grossly inflated” his income in his loan application to Amarillo National Bank, according to the factual résumé.
Army records for McClanahan show he never received an award for valor, and his only overseas assignment, Army officials said, was a yearlong tour in South Korea from 2003 to 2004. McClanahan was kicked out of the Army on similar charges. He spent time in prison, took a reduction in rank and received an other-than-honorable discharge on his way out, Army officials said. He was in the Army from 2001 to 2005 after a short stint in the Navy.
Based on the charges, the maximum penalties the court can impose on McClanahan include up to 31 years in prison, a fine of no more than $1.1 million and up to five years of probation, according to the plea agreement.
10.30.07 / 1pm
Brilliant!!!
10.30.07 / 3pm
If a maximum sentence allowed for a crime is 18 months, how is a judge allowed to exceed that maximum by giving 24 months?
10.30.07 / 3pm
Because it is only a suggested sentence, it is the Judge’s sole discretion to sentence. A maximum does not mean that it is set in stone.
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Hear a story that is just too good to be true? It probably is. It’s your turn now. Here are some resources that were VERY helpful to me in finding out the real story.
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