Punxsutawney Phil Faces Death Penalty: Ohio Prosecutor Files Indictment Against Groundhog

Despite Punxsutawney Phil's prediction, spring has yet to arrive in the northeast. Instead, icy rains and snow has lashed the eastern coast of the U.S., bringing freezing temperatures and winds that have made the general public wonder: Why wasn't the groundhog able to foresee this?

Michael Gmoser, the prosecuting attorney of Butler County, Ohio has asked the same. He's now filing an obviously serious indictment against the critter, saying that he's tired of looking out the window every day only to see more ice and snow.

"On or about February 02, 2013, at Gobbler's Knob, Punxsutawney Phil did purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the people to believe that Spring would come early," the indictment reads. "Contrary to the Groundhog day report, a snowstorm and record low temperatures have been and are predicted to continue in the new future, which constitutes the offense of MISREPRESENTATION OF EARLY SPRING, a Unclassified Felony, and against the peace and dignity of the State of Ohio."

This latest move against the notorious Punxsutawney Phil is not wholly surprising. It's now the third day of spring, but temperatures continue to remain in the teens in some areas. If Phil knowingly misled the entire public, it's possible that he could face serious charges.

"When he betrays us like this, something has to be done," said Gmoser in a phone interview with The Washington Post.

The prosecutor is calling for the death penalty if the groundhog is convicted of his crime. He believes that the punishment is warranted considering the amount of aggravating circumstances associated with winter and its freezing temperatures.

In fact, the U.S. will be in for another round of winter weather very soon. Winter Storm Virgil will made itself felt over this weekend over the northern and central Rockies. It will eventually emerge into the central Plains where increasing snow and winds will develop. This is only the latest in a line of storms that has clobbered the U.S.

Yet Phil may not be getting his just desserts just yet. Gmoser believes that the groundhog will attempt to appeal the indictment by saying that he did not knowingly mislead the public.

The indictment was filed only days after TheOnion.com wrote a humorous piece about how the groundhog had been beheaded for his inaccurate prediction.