Last week, two Montana men tried to receive lesser sentences for crimes they committed by pretending to be military veterans, but they were soon found out.
Ryan Morris and Troy Nelson claimed to be veterans so they’d have the opportunity to be allowed into Judge Pinski’s Veterans Treatment Court.
Morris was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 10 years (with three years suspended) while Nelson was convicted of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and sentenced to five years (with two of the years suspended), according to KRTV.
After their deception was discovered, Great Falls judge Greg Pinski saw to it that the men would have some unique requirements added to their sentences.
The judge, disgusted by the men’s actions, made the men watch a video of a stolen valor suspect being confronted by a member of the military.
Pinski also read names of the Montanans who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to the convicted criminals.
KRTV also stated the men will be required to do the following:
Both men must wear a sign at the Montana Veterans Memorial during each Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremony while they are under court supervision; the signs will read: I AM A LIAR. I AM NOT A VETERAN. I STOLE VALOR. I DISHONORED ALL VETERANS.
“I want to make sure that my message is received loud and clear by these two defendants,” Pinski said, according to the Great Falls Tribune. “You’ve been nothing but disrespectful in your conduct. You certainly have not respected the Army. You’ve not respected the veterans. You’ve not respected the court. And you haven’t respected yourselves.”
The men will also be required to:
- Hand-write the names of all 6,756 Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan wars
- Hand-write the obituaries of the 40 Montanans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan wars
- Write letters of apology to the following organizations: American Legion, AmVets, Disabled American Veterans, the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vietnam Veterans of America
- 441 hours of community service
To be considered for parole, Morris and Nelson must complete the requirements after they’ve served their prison terms.