Butler County Judge Timothy McCune has seen thousands of defendants who struggle with substance abuse and mental health problems.

But he's learned volumes more about the struggles of addiction and post traumatic stress syndrome in the four years he's been presiding over the Butler County Veterans Treatment Court.

President Judge Thomas Doerr noted the rate of unemployment, homelessness and depression also is high among veterans, with veterans being 20 percent of this nation's suicides.

“If it wasn't for all of this, I would be one of those statistics,” said Ethan Landis, one of five men in Veteran Court's second graduating class.

The graduation Wednesday at the courthouse was celebrated by about 60 family members, fellow service members and officials.

The court plucks veterans accused of committing crimes out of the criminal court system and gives them the treatment and the tools for rehabilitation and readjustment.

The program works like this: A team of people including a prosecutor, a public defender, court officials and representatives from VA Butler Healthcare picks veterans who are facing prosecution. The participant pleads guilty to the crimes, but instead of being sentenced to prison, he is prescribed a series of mandated programs or therapies at VA Butler Healthcare and a peer mentor who also is a veteran.

McCune said, “I talk to them twice a month and I hear their stories. A lot of them are suffering post traumatic stress disorder ... it's the affects of war. It doesn't just 'go away.;”

During the Wednesday ceremony, each graduate spoke about his life's experiences. They also said this court and the opportunities accompanied it are life changing.

The graduates are Landis, 26, of Cranberry Township who served in the Army; Kevin Willacy, 49, of Butler who served in the Navy; Matthew Fettis, 26, of Gibsonia who served in the Army; Amos Good, 34, of Boyers who served in the Marines; and Thomas Gray, 67, of Renfrew who served in the Army.