HAMILTON (AP) -- The groundhog is off the hook.
An Ohio prosecutor who light-heartedly filed a criminal indictment against the famous Pennsylvania groundhog who fraudulently "predicted" an early spring says he has dismissed the charge. Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser says Punxsutawney Phil has a defense with teeth in it since the animal's handler is taking the blame.
The Groundhog Day celebration about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh attracts worldwide attention each year. That stretched well beyond Feb. 2 when Gmoser last week issued an indictment as winter-like weather continued across much of the nation even as spring began.
Gmoser says the tongue-in-cheek indictment generated a lot of attention, but he has a lot of "really serious work" to do and wanted to end things on a positive note.
March 25 coverage:
Groundhog's Handler Taking Blame for Forecast
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- An Ohio prosecutor who has light-heartedly filed charges against the famous Pennsylvania groundhog who fraudulently "predicted" an early spring says he may consider a pardon now that the animal's handler is taking the blame.
That's right, Bill Deeley, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle says the animal rightly predicted six more weeks of winter but Deeley tells The Associated Press he mistakenly announced an early spring because he failed to correctly interpret Phil's "groundhog-ese."
Butler County, Ohio prosecutor, Mike Gmoser tells the AP he's reconsidering the charges in light of the new evidence and may issue a full pardon.
The Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, a borough about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, attracts worldwide attention each year.
Deeley says the prosecutor's indictment of Phil has generated more publicity than a $10,000 ad campaign.
Photo courtesy Aaron Silvers
An Ohio prosecutor who light-heartedly filed a criminal indictment against the famous Pennsylvania groundhog who fraudulently "predicted" an early spring says he has dismissed the charge. Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser says Punxsutawney Phil has a defense with teeth in it since the animal's handler is taking the blame.
The Groundhog Day celebration about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh attracts worldwide attention each year. That stretched well beyond Feb. 2 when Gmoser last week issued an indictment as winter-like weather continued across much of the nation even as spring began.
Gmoser says the tongue-in-cheek indictment generated a lot of attention, but he has a lot of "really serious work" to do and wanted to end things on a positive note.
March 25 coverage:
Groundhog's Handler Taking Blame for Forecast
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- An Ohio prosecutor who has light-heartedly filed charges against the famous Pennsylvania groundhog who fraudulently "predicted" an early spring says he may consider a pardon now that the animal's handler is taking the blame.
That's right, Bill Deeley, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle says the animal rightly predicted six more weeks of winter but Deeley tells The Associated Press he mistakenly announced an early spring because he failed to correctly interpret Phil's "groundhog-ese."
Butler County, Ohio prosecutor, Mike Gmoser tells the AP he's reconsidering the charges in light of the new evidence and may issue a full pardon.
The Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, a borough about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, attracts worldwide attention each year.
Deeley says the prosecutor's indictment of Phil has generated more publicity than a $10,000 ad campaign.
Photo courtesy Aaron Silvers