Beutler
Gabrielle Beutler pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges from both Franklin and Hart counties and was sentenced to 15 years of probation with two years to serve in prison, and ordered to pay restitution which would be determined at a later date.
She pleaded guilty to Franklin County charges of forgery and Hart County charges of forgery, false representation of a veteran and cruelty to children.
Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Durfee explained to the court that Beutler came to the area with two children and joined the Lavonia VFW.
To do so, she turned in a DD-214 form, which outlined service in the U.S. Air Force, including receiving the rank of E-6, deployment to Afghanistan and a Purple Heart.
“Those representations were false,” Durfee said. “She knew they were false.”
He added she was elected to post commander this year.
In Hart County, she used the same form at the Department of Revenue to obtain Purple Heart license plates for vehicles.
Durfee said further investigation found she was running a GoFundMe to raise money for her 9-year-old daughter who she claimed had cancer. He said it was discovered the girl did not have cancer, but was under the impression she did.
“She suffered cruel and excessive mental pain,” Durfee said, referring to the child.
He added her 4-year-old also suffered cruel and excessive mental pain as she believed her sister had cancer and was told she couldn’t drink certain things because she could get cancer, too.
In the GoFundMe, Beutler claimed her daughter had non-small cell lung cancer of the upper left lobe, a cancer for which smoking is the major risk factor.
Durfee said records were being pulled from GoFundMe to determine restitution. According to the site, $1,650 had been raised.
Attorneys agreed to a sentence of 15 years probation for Franklin County to run concurrent with 15 years probation with two years to serve in prison for Hart County.
Restitution would be left open for 90 days.
Durfee also requested a mental health evaluation for Beutler.
She will receive credit for time served since her arrest on Aug. 16.
She could have received up to 15 years for the Franklin County charges and up to 57 years for the Hart County charges.
If she violates the conditions of her probation, she would receive the maximum sentence.
Fallen soldier’s cuffs used during faker’s arrest
A pair of handcuffs owned by Jonathan Merck that were owned by a friend who was killed in Iraq were used to secure Gabrielle Beutler after she was arrested on charges of making up her veteran status and other charges. Merck wears a bracelet with the name of his friend, SPC Daniel Lucas Elliott. To read the full story about Jonathan Merck, click here.