Veterans Court holds 2nd graduation event
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 disorder 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 accounting for 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 Veterans Court's second graduating class.
The graduation Wednesday at the courthouse was celebrated by about 60 family members, fellow service members and officials.
Among those in attendance were judges, county commissioners and court officials. Doerr; McCune; U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, and Debra Todd, associate justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, were among the speakers.
The court plucks veterans accused of committing crimes out of the traditional 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 effects of war. It doesn't just go away.”
During the Wednesday ceremony, each graduate spoke about his life's experiences. Each story was personal and unique, but resulted in the same resolution: They say this court and the opportunities accompanied with it are life changing.
The graduates were 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.
Some had been in the program nearly since its inception. One flew through the comprehensive phases in the minimum one year.
“It's taking some of the guys longer to work through the phases,” said McCune, who explained setbacks for them can include a positive drug test.
The first graduating class had three people, and currently there are more than a dozen people in the program, including one woman.
“But these guys,” McCune said, indicating to the men in the graduating class. “They fought, and they made it through.”
Court officials said the graduates are required to participate in one year of after care programming.
During his speech, McCune said he recognized this program means the men had received special treatment from the courts because of their veterans status, “but they earned it.”
