Punxsutawney Phil is off the hook! Punxsutawney Phil has taken a beating in the media since predicting an early spring in February. Phil’s handler, Bill Deeley, says don’t blame the groundhog. He says he was the one who misinterpreted the forecast. Much of the country has been hit with cold temperatures and snow. An Ohio prosecutor got so fed up with the winter-like weather he indicted Phil for fraud.He dropped the charge Tuesday, March 26th.