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Man gets 18-month sentence for weapons charges
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Feb 26, 2009
Inside the front door of his Iona Avenue home, former Buchtel High School science teacher Benjamin B. Terril kept a black 45mm semiautomatic commando rifle with a 12-inch barrel.
It was loaded, according to police records.
Although no explanation was given why Terril kept that rifle and many other weapons stashed in various places inside his Akron home, it apparently was enough to convince Summit County Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer that Terril should be sent to prison for 18 months.
Terril, dressed neatly in a sport coat and tie, merely shook his head back and forth at his sentencing hearing Wednesday when the judge asked him if he had anything to say.
His lawyer, Peter T. Cahoon, also declined to provide any details about the weapons, except to say that a psychologi
cal evaluation of Terril showed ''nothing . . . that indicated he would be a danger to anyone.''
Terril, 51, already had pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, possession of dangerous ordnance, using weapons while intoxicated and two misdemeanor drug offenses.
Terril was arrested on Labor Day after Akron police responded to an anonymous report that he and another man were aiming guns at one another. Responding officers found numerous weapons, explosive materials, a duffel bag of grenades and a silencer, Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Margaret B. Tomaro told the judge.
''He had an arsenal in his home,'' Tomaro said in her argument for the maximum 18-month term.
Stormer had delayed an earlier sentencing hearing so that Summit County Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic could evaluate Terril.
Such reports usually are not made public, but in Stormer's court order for the evaluation, the judge attached a police inventory of some of the weapons and other munitions seized at Terril's home.
Among the weapons listed were two shotguns, a .30-caliber Winchester rifle with a 20-inch barrel, a .22-caliber semiautomatic Ruger rifle with an 18-inch barrel, a .38-caliber Detective Special revolver found in a nightstand in a second-floor bedroom, a .22-caliber five-shot Derringer, a .38-caliber two-shot Derringer and two empty magazines found with the Winchester.
A subsequent television investigation into Terril's background revealed that his claim he had served 15 years in an elite unit of the U.S. Army was fictitious. Although he was not charged with any offense for that, Tomaro cited the claim in court, telling the judge that Terril had ''lived the life of an impostor.''
Cahoon, who unsuccessfully argued for probation for his client, told the court Terril's explanations to his probation officer for why he stashed explosive materials and other strange devices, such as a catapult, were deemed to be ''credible.''
As a science and biology teacher at Buchtel for 12 years, Cahoon said Terril ''thought they were something he could use in science class.''
Terril, who is free on bond with a court-ordered GPS device to monitor his whereabouts, was ordered by Stormer to turn himself in at 10 a.m. Friday to begin serving his sentence.
As part of that sentence, Cahoon said Terril will be eligible for judicial release after serving 30 days. Court hearings, at which both sides are heard, are required before release is granted.
Terril resigned his teaching position late last year after receiving notice from the school board that he might be fired for the criminal charges.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Inside the front door of his Iona Avenue home, former Buchtel High School science teacher Benjamin B. Terril kept a black 45mm semiautomatic commando rifle with a 12-inch barrel.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 06:20 AM, 02/26/2009
Here's a guy that could've been a great role model. Well, at least he was'nt molesting any students. One last thing, how do you incorporate grenades into a class lesson or experiment. Cmon guys i know you can come up with something.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:23 PM, 02/26/2009
What is a black 45mm commando rifle? Come on ABJ, talk about just making stuff up. Try a black .223/5.56 AR-15... Write much?
New Philadelphia, OH
Posted 12:39 PM, 02/26/2009
That black 45mm commando rifle must be one of those Highpoint weapons......but....not bad little gun collection. Whats wrong with that?
Posted 12:44 PM, 02/26/2009
remember NEVER trust a judge with two last names. Her ole man must be a woose. Lots of people have more guns than that.
Akron, OH
Posted 12:58 PM, 02/26/2009
Nope, 45 mm would be a cannon not a Highpoint handgun. Maybe a .45?
akron, oh
Posted 01:51 PM, 02/26/2009
He could have been a great role model for what. Skin Heads!!! Believe it or not, we have some great African American role models at Buchtel.We can not control what the kids do on their on time, the same as suburban parents cant. What I have found from working with many white people is that when their kids commit the same crime, it is viewed as childhold prank, whereas in the "hood" it is looked at as a felony.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:45 PM, 02/26/2009
With all the budget cuts to the Akron Police department, maybe he just wanted to protect his property? After all, crime is on the rise!
rootstown, oh
Posted 05:07 PM, 02/26/2009
if i lived in kenmore i would have an arsenal too.it's bad enough he had to teach at buchtel.
akron, oh
Posted 10:35 PM, 02/26/2009
WHAT ? NO RACIAL SLURS .
