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Phoney soldier confesses to lies but avoids jail

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 08/8/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Josh Tuckett is no Canadian hero. But that didn't stop the Winnipeg man from pretending to be one for more than two years and even fooling members of his own family into believing he was serving his country.

The bizarre web of lies was laid out in a courtroom Tuesday as Tuckett pleaded guilty to a rarely used charge of impersonating a member of the military by wearing a uniform without authorization.

"Obviously this was a very elaborate type of fantasy world you built for yourself," provincial court Judge Patti Umpherville said upon hearing the facts of the case. She agreed to a recommendation from lawyers to spare Tuckett a criminal record by giving him a discharge, citing the fact he didn't gain any benefit from his unusual actions.

Tuckett, 21, was arrested last November after he showed up at an official military event in Winnipeg in full uniform, passing himself off as a corporal who had recently done tours of Afghanistan and Haiti and had previously been stationed in Alberta. His story unravelled when he presented a false name badge and identification number, court was told.

Tuckett admitted to the charade, claiming he'd purchased the uniform while volunteering with the military cadets and playing on a paintball team. But his deception went much deeper, with Tuckett also confessing he'd falsely told members of his own family, including his fiancée, that he was a full-fledged soldier. Tuckett even convinced his loved ones he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of witnessing three fellow soldiers lose their lives while on enemy soil.

"This was absolute foolishness," defence lawyer Greg Brodsky told court Tuesday. He rejected questions from the judge about Tuckett's mental state, saying there is no evidence of any issues.

"You can appreciate why I'd have a big red flag go up," said Umpherville.

"He doesn't have post-traumatic stress or a mental illness. He has an embarrassment," Brodsky replied. "This made him feel important. He wasn't trying to get any benefit except recognition, adulation."

Tuckett certainly got that. In 2009, he was interviewed and photographed in full military gear for a weekly newspaper publication in Niverville. The story, titled Local Heroes Welcomed Home, spoke of how three local soldiers had just returned from a tour of Afghanistan. Tuckett attended the event and told a reporter he was anxious to head overseas.

"As part of the evening, Corporal Josh Tuckett was wished well as he prepares to head to Afghanistan in September," the article stated.

Tuckett later admitted to investigators he had attended several similar events over the past few years as part of the hoax.

"I apologize for my actions. I guess I never gave it a good thought what I was doing," Tuckett told court on Tuesday.

"So it was about the attention?" asked Umpherville.

"A little bit, yes," Tuckett said, wiping tears from his eyes.

Umpherville noted the maximum sentence is six months behind bars, but said that would typically apply to cases where the deception is used for a more sinister purpose.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 8, 2012 A5

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