Prosecutor drops charges against groundhog

HAMILTON, Ohio, March 26 (UPI) -- An Ohio prosecutor said he is dropping charges against Punxsutawney Phil after the groundhog's handler took responsibility for spring's late start.

Michael Gmoser, Butler County prosecutor, filed court documents announcing he was dropping the fraud charges against the Pennsylvania groundhog as the animal "has a defense with teeth in it -- his handler stepped up to the burrow to take full responsibility for misinterpreting said defendant's prediction of an early spring."

"In these serious times, I hope this case brought a light-hearted moment to all concerned with a warm welcome to spring ahead," Gmoser wrote in the memorandum in support of his dismissal of the charge.