EVERETT — A judge Wednesday found sufficient proof that a Snohomish man and his counselor had discussed concerns about the accuracy of the man’s claimed military experiences.
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes declined to take any action against Tyler Gaffney but advised him to continue his treatment and “come to grips with whatever the reality of the situation was.”
Downes last year ordered Gaffney to undergo mental health counseling and get to the bottom of whether he had been truthful about his military service in the U.S. Army. He also wanted documentation showing that Gaffney had been evaluated for a drug or alcohol addiction.
Gaffney’s service came into question in 2013 after his arrest for assaulting his father and threatening to kill Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies. He told detectives that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of his combat experience.
Gaffney said he was a member of “a super-secret Special Forces team” and served in clandestine combat missions. He told sheriff’s detectives he had been awarded medals for bravery.
The detectives, who both served in the military, questioned his claims, saying that many of his combat stories followed the plots of popular war movies.
Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Paul Stern raised concerns about “stolen valor.”
Downes said Wednesday he doesn’t know the truth. He was satisfied after reading treatment notes, however, that Gaffney’s counselor was aware of the court’s concerns.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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