Our judicial system at work!
First off, I'm fairly laid back and easygoing. I do not try to stir up trouble and generally try to get along with everybody.
I respect authority and have always tried my best to obey the law and do the right thing. I have tried to install that value in our children.
The following is a true story. I realize that when some people tell you something it is true, red flags go up. But I promise, this is a true story.
Early in November, our youngest son, Derik, along with his cousin, who was living with us at that time, went bike riding with a friend.
They wound up downtown and were just goofing off. The other kid picked up a rock and thew it. Derik and his cousin teased the other kid by saying he threw like a girl. The other kid got a little hacked and threw a rock through a window downtown.
This is wrong, of course. The local police caught the three boys and took them down to the police station. There was a man working on a nearby building who saw what happened and told the police that our son did not throw the rock, that it was one of the other boys.
So we get a call from the police and come down to see what is happening. The police are asking the kids what happened, but nobody is fessing up. All three boys write out a statement. Derik and his cousin both say the other boy did it. They are all issued a citation and told they have to show up at city court.
It was a week or so later that we loaded up and went to city court. If anybody has not had the opportunity to attend one, I recommend that you do so. Interesting does not even touch the description.
So after a lot of the other people are called and they pay their ticket or can't pay, which is usually the case, the city judge calls on the boys.
Derik and his cousin both plead guilty. The other kid admits to throwing the rock and breaking the window. I felt better about the other kid after he admitted throwing the rock and figured the case would be dropped against my son and his cousin.
The officer that investigated the incident could not come to court that day. So instead of just telling the other kid to pay for the damages and release Derik and his cousin, the judge ordered everybody to come back for the next court date so the officer could give a report.
But wait, it gets worse. The next court date rolls around the the other kid is sick so they put it off until the next court date, which was last night. That's fine. But Derik's cousin, who was at the first court date and would have been at the second, if it had been held, has since moved to Corpus Christi to live with his father.
So we go back to court last night. They run through every other Tom, Dick and Harry prior to getting to us. The judge jokes around with everybody else, including the public drunks and one guy who was busted twice within four days for driving without a license and not having insurance.
The judge actually reduced the fine on one guy who has lived here for three years but never switched his license over to Oklahoma. That's fine with me.
So finally, we get to our case. The judge calls on the police officer who investigated the case. The judge had instructed the officer to bring his police report, but apparently that information was not relayed.
The witness to the case also did not attend. The statements wouldn't have even been available if the mother of the other boy didn't have a copy that she gave to the judge.
The judge says something like Derik's cousin moved to Texas to get away from this, which is certainly not the truth.
So the judge reads the statements. First off was Derik's cousin, who said the other boy got mad when they said he threw like a girl. Then the judge read Derik's statement. He said the other boy "sucked" at throwing rocks.
This got most of the people left laughing. The boys laughed, along with the parents and several of the police officers sitting close to the judge.
So the judge sees the boys laughing and goes off. He says that breaking a window is nothing to laugh about and is a serious offense. Duh? Nobody's laughing about that. They are laughing at Derik's statement.
So the judge goes on to say that he could send the boys to juvenile hall, says they should be working or doing something else other than riding around on bikes and even insinuates that we are not good parents because the boys did this.
The cost to fix the window was $135, which sounded reasonable and nobody questioned it. Then the judge says he will decide how to handle it. He says the other boy, who threw the rock will have to pay $75 of the fine. Derik and his cousin are responsible for $30 each and the judge says they are at fault and shouldn't be making fun of another kid.
No, they shouldn't be making fun of another kid. But this is lame compared to what goes on with kids that age. During my time on the city council, I never helped pass a law or city code or saw one on the books that said it was against any kind of law or code for kids to tease other kids.
If this had been a real trial, there is no way this would have worked. First off, the case would have been kicked out because there were no witnesses or proof the boys did that aside from the statements.
I have nothing against the police force. They were just doing their job and the owner of the building should not be responsible for paying for the damages.
We wound up spending approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes during the two trials to get this settled. It should have been done at the first one where the other kid admitted he did it. Case closed. But nooooo!
I guess that is better to be drunk in public, fighting, speeding, driving without a license or insurance. The city judge certainly treats them a lot better.
I am going to talk to some people later today and voice my displeasure with the situation. I will add something on the next blog as to what comes of that.
I respect authority and have always tried my best to obey the law and do the right thing. I have tried to install that value in our children.
The following is a true story. I realize that when some people tell you something it is true, red flags go up. But I promise, this is a true story.
Early in November, our youngest son, Derik, along with his cousin, who was living with us at that time, went bike riding with a friend.
They wound up downtown and were just goofing off. The other kid picked up a rock and thew it. Derik and his cousin teased the other kid by saying he threw like a girl. The other kid got a little hacked and threw a rock through a window downtown.
This is wrong, of course. The local police caught the three boys and took them down to the police station. There was a man working on a nearby building who saw what happened and told the police that our son did not throw the rock, that it was one of the other boys.
So we get a call from the police and come down to see what is happening. The police are asking the kids what happened, but nobody is fessing up. All three boys write out a statement. Derik and his cousin both say the other boy did it. They are all issued a citation and told they have to show up at city court.
It was a week or so later that we loaded up and went to city court. If anybody has not had the opportunity to attend one, I recommend that you do so. Interesting does not even touch the description.
So after a lot of the other people are called and they pay their ticket or can't pay, which is usually the case, the city judge calls on the boys.
Derik and his cousin both plead guilty. The other kid admits to throwing the rock and breaking the window. I felt better about the other kid after he admitted throwing the rock and figured the case would be dropped against my son and his cousin.
The officer that investigated the incident could not come to court that day. So instead of just telling the other kid to pay for the damages and release Derik and his cousin, the judge ordered everybody to come back for the next court date so the officer could give a report.
But wait, it gets worse. The next court date rolls around the the other kid is sick so they put it off until the next court date, which was last night. That's fine. But Derik's cousin, who was at the first court date and would have been at the second, if it had been held, has since moved to Corpus Christi to live with his father.
So we go back to court last night. They run through every other Tom, Dick and Harry prior to getting to us. The judge jokes around with everybody else, including the public drunks and one guy who was busted twice within four days for driving without a license and not having insurance.
The judge actually reduced the fine on one guy who has lived here for three years but never switched his license over to Oklahoma. That's fine with me.
So finally, we get to our case. The judge calls on the police officer who investigated the case. The judge had instructed the officer to bring his police report, but apparently that information was not relayed.
The witness to the case also did not attend. The statements wouldn't have even been available if the mother of the other boy didn't have a copy that she gave to the judge.
The judge says something like Derik's cousin moved to Texas to get away from this, which is certainly not the truth.
So the judge reads the statements. First off was Derik's cousin, who said the other boy got mad when they said he threw like a girl. Then the judge read Derik's statement. He said the other boy "sucked" at throwing rocks.
This got most of the people left laughing. The boys laughed, along with the parents and several of the police officers sitting close to the judge.
So the judge sees the boys laughing and goes off. He says that breaking a window is nothing to laugh about and is a serious offense. Duh? Nobody's laughing about that. They are laughing at Derik's statement.
So the judge goes on to say that he could send the boys to juvenile hall, says they should be working or doing something else other than riding around on bikes and even insinuates that we are not good parents because the boys did this.
The cost to fix the window was $135, which sounded reasonable and nobody questioned it. Then the judge says he will decide how to handle it. He says the other boy, who threw the rock will have to pay $75 of the fine. Derik and his cousin are responsible for $30 each and the judge says they are at fault and shouldn't be making fun of another kid.
No, they shouldn't be making fun of another kid. But this is lame compared to what goes on with kids that age. During my time on the city council, I never helped pass a law or city code or saw one on the books that said it was against any kind of law or code for kids to tease other kids.
If this had been a real trial, there is no way this would have worked. First off, the case would have been kicked out because there were no witnesses or proof the boys did that aside from the statements.
I have nothing against the police force. They were just doing their job and the owner of the building should not be responsible for paying for the damages.
We wound up spending approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes during the two trials to get this settled. It should have been done at the first one where the other kid admitted he did it. Case closed. But nooooo!
I guess that is better to be drunk in public, fighting, speeding, driving without a license or insurance. The city judge certainly treats them a lot better.
I am going to talk to some people later today and voice my displeasure with the situation. I will add something on the next blog as to what comes of that.
posted by Craig Hall at
7:50 AM
1 Comments:
I think you have every right to voice your displeasure to one and all. I remember when the case came up initially. This city Judge ought to be involuntarily retired. Obviously he is a relic of the dark ages or is a pompous, old fool. I'm not even believing there was a trial. No wonder nothing ever gets accomplishing that is worthwhile or meaningful given this sort of apporach. The whole city managerial approach shows a lot to be desired. Virtue, justice and just plain common sense is on your side. Let, we the readers know what happened.
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