Darryl Wright faced a judge in federal court Thursday afternoon, accused of lying to the Army to get a Purple Heart and collecting up to $250,000 in government benefits due to his injuries.
"What he tells the Department of the Army is that there was a rocket attack in 2005, and as a direct result of the rocket attack, he suffered disabilities," said Joseph Velling, Social Security Administration.
In court documents prosecutors said Wright told the army he suffered a "traumatic brain injury" while serving with the Idaho National Guard in Iraq.
He was awarded a Combat Action Badge and a Purple Heart for it, but prosecutors said he was never injured and the explosion that happened was a small blast about 100 yards away.
"This was like an onion, as we kept peeling back the onion skin, we kept finding more and more," said Velling.
"I think it's dishonorable to everybody fighting and risking their lives for us," said Linda Jerochio, Wright's neighbor.
Wright said he suffered from PTSD, used a cane, and was frightened by traffic and people. But his neighbors in Snoqualmie said he didn't seem disabled at all.
"Definitely never seen him use a cane or anything like that," said Emmet Williams, who lives across the street from Wright.
In fact prosecutors said he was very active in the community, serving as a volunteer on the Snoqualmie Planning Commission and coaching high school basketball.
"My experiences with Darryl is he's been an intelligent and lucid individual," said Mayor Matthew Larson, who appointed Wright to the planning commission back in 2010.
In federal court Thursday afternoon, federal prosecutors said Wright tried to warn friends that investigators may contact them.
Mayor Matthew Larson said he wasn't warned, but after he was interviewed by investigators he confronted Wright.
"I broached the matter with Darryl and I didn't probe too deeply, but he suggested that there wasn't much to it and he felt confident it would blow over," said Larson.
Larson said at this point it’s premature to remove Wright from his post on the planning commission, but if Wright offered a resignation, he would accept it. Wright didn't comment while leaving the federal courthouse in Tacoma on Thursday, but his attorney spoke on his behalf.
"We are very much contesting these charges, they are very much allegations. At this point as the process moves forward,we will hopefully get to the bottom of things," said Chris Black, Wright's attorney.
As conditions of Wright's release, he'll have to surrender his passport, weapons, and undergo a mental evaluation. His trial is set for March 31st.
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