Netters,
This is about raising kids, not only in USA but across the globe. Most kids
turn out ok. Why is it that some turn out to be criminals?
In the case narrated below, is it because the kid has no respect for
community property or is it because he couldn't see right from wrong? We have
been talking about criminal politicians in India. Doesn't this incident have
some similarity in the sense that community property is involved in both cases.
How do you teach kids to respect community property- be it a school buiding or
public funds for a highway?
It is a relief that the perpetrator in this case has confessed and his father
has apologized. Note that the family had no clue that the son harbored the
feelings to lead to such an act.
What do you think of the readers' comments at the bottom? Comments from
parents outside the USA are most welcome.
Dilip Deka
=================================================================================
Published in the Houston Chronicle
Fort Bend County News
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"The rubble remains from Needville High School that was destroyed by a fire
about three weeks ago.A juvenile suspect turned himself in to authorities
Tuesday and was charged with arson.","Bob Levey", "For The Chronicle");
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"Fort Bend County Fire Marshall Investigator Robbie Baker, left, and Texas
Ranger Jeff Cook escort the juvenile accused of setting the fire at Needville
High School to juvenile detention after the suspect turned himself in Tuesday
morning at the Fort Bend County Courthouse in Richmond.","Bob Levey", "For The
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--> The rubble remains from Needville High School that was destroyed by a
fire about three weeks ago.A juvenile suspect turned himself in to authorities
Tuesday and was charged with arson.
Bob Levey: For The Chronicle
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May 11, 2007, 10:00AM
Father of teen accused in school arson apologizes
He begs court not to `hang' the student by trying him as an adult in Needville
High case
By ERIC HANSON
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
RICHMOND The father of the teenager accused of starting the fire that
destroyed part of Needville High School apologized to the rural community for
the harm the blaze caused and said his son can be rehabilitated.
"Please, don't hang him. He is something that can be salvaged. Please don't
throw him away," he said as he choked back tears.
The comments were made after a hearing on Thursday in which prosecutors and
the defense attorney agreed the 16-year-old should be held in the detention
center, where he can undergo psychological testing.
"For the community of Needville I am very sorry for what he has caused, all
the inconvenience, all the turmoil," the father said.
The Houston Chronicle usually does not identify juvenile suspects, and
because the father and suspect share the same last name the father's name is
not being used.
The teen is accused of arson and four counts of solicitation of arson.
Investigators said he set the April 23 fire that razed part of the school and
tried to get others to help him.
The boy surrendered on Tuesday to Fort Bend County authorities.
The father said he does not want his son certified as an adult.
The decision to seek certification is made by the district attorney. If
certification is sought, a hearing is held and a judge makes the final decision
on whether the case remains in the juvenile court system or is transferred to a
state district court as an adult case.
The suspect's father said he does not expect his son to go unpunished.
"Something is not right. He's a good kid. I do not know why he chose to do
what he did," the father said.
"Him and God know."
The hearing was closed to the public by County Court at Law No. 1 Judge Ben
W. "Bud" Childers. Nearly 20 family members and friends waited in the
courthouse lobby while prosecutors and defense attorney Steven Rocket Rosen
appeared before the judge.
Rosen said prosecutors read a probable-cause affidavit to the judge to
explain why the teen should be detained.
Rosen said he is not contesting the detention at this time.
He said the judge ordered a psychological evaluation of the suspect to be
conducted by the juvenile probation department's psychologist.
"We want our client to get the proper psychological treatment and evaluation
to get him back on the right footing," Rosen said.
He said the teen has mental health issues but is not mentally ill.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Longhorn1111 wrote:
Don't apologize take him out back and whip his *** like you probably should
have been doing for the past number of years. Kids run wild and the parents are
the ones who apologize and make excuses for their little darlings. Why isn't
the kid making any public apologies?
5/11/2007 10:08:37 AM
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EJELNICA wrote:
loghorn i feel ya its funny how the goverment wants to make laws that protect
kids but now they wanna try this kid as an adult and possibly jail him with
rapist murderers what a great incredibly stupid justice system we have.
Pendejos. Poor dad was proly scared to whup that kid cause cps would come after
him well there MR President and so called advocates this is what lack of rules
and whoopings results in. IDIOTS
5/11/2007 11:02:30 AM
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jethrobodene wrote:
I still say that after all is said and done he is a danger to him self and
others. He put the lives of firefighters from 21 departments at risk that
morning. Every one of those firefighters is some ones father, brother, mother,
or son. He needs to spend time for this crime. He needs time in either the TDCJ
or in a mental instatution. But he must pay for what he has done. I am looked
down on by friends and family for being to hard on my kids but they know about
punishment for their actions. This my wife and I will never change. I read that
every body wants to not hold the parents responsable but I ask who is
resposible for a 16 yo that is out at 3:00 am. Beleive me when I say I know
where my kids are.
5/11/2007 11:12:17 AM
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GEMS wrote:
I agree completely with you EJELNICA.
5/11/2007 11:48:45 AM
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