Ohio Prosecutor Wants to Off Punxsutawney Phil

Fake indictment suggests death penalty for groundhog

Frustration over delayed spring-like temperatures has prompted an Ohio prosecutor to go after Punxsutawney Phil.

According to Cincinnati.com, Butler County's Mike Gmoser issued a fake direct indictment against the groundhog, charging him with "misrepresentation of early Spring."

Phil is accused of "purposely, and with prior calculation and design, causing the people to believe that Spring would come early."

The indictment suggests the death penalty be implemented against the animal.

Phil did not see his shadow on Feb. 2 -- which is supposed to mean an early spring -- but one of the animal's handlers told USA Today that he's convinced there will be an acquittal, and that there may just be a dark cloud over Ohio.

Snow is forecast in Ohio this weekend, as well as the Chicago area.

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