Go to If I get smart with you....how will you know?
- Add a comment
- Go to Boy Arrested for Opening Christmas Present Early.............
UPDATE on this story.....more information....
Come court day, his mother said she plans to ask for him to be placed with the state Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia. It provides treatment and rehabilitation for juveniles who are on probation or parole, incarcerated or in community placement for a status offense (behavior that wouldn't be considered a crime if committed by an adult) or criminal offense.
Ouida Dest, an assistant deputy solicitor, said she has seen parents faced with similar problems in the 13 years she's worked with York County's juvenile division. She said the best option isn't to place him in the lap of the juvenile department that houses convicted young people.
"We do have parents who are pulling their hair out with kids who are misbehaving," Dest said. She added if the mother had been aware of local services, she could have been referred to agencies for mental and/or substance abuse counseling as well as random drug screens if needed.
In January, the solicitor's office will launch a prevention program geared to those ages 12 to 16 who have not committed a criminal offense.
The free pilot program will enable young people and their parents to tour the county jail and hear presentations from prisoners and officials, Dest said. "We would talk to the children and their parents in detail about what could happen if they continue with their bad behavior, as well as offer community-wide resources," Dest said.
The program is too little, too late for the boy, who was told not to open a package placed under the family's Christmas tree.
He tore through gift wrapping Sunday and removed a Nintendo Game Boy Advance. When his 27-year-old mother heard about the opened gift, she called the police.
"Parents get to the point where they cannot control their children and call the police and ask us for advice and help," said Lt. Jerry Waldrop of the Rock Hill Police Department.
The youth is charged with petty larceny, which is stealing anything less than $1,000. His court date was not available Wednesday.
His mother told The Herald earlier this week she had the child when she was 15.
The single mother is struggling to earn a business degree. She was not available for comment Wednesday.
Meanwhile, her son had shoplifted from stores and stolen money from her, she said. He has been inching toward expulsion from school, and he was arrested for disorderly conduct after he punched a police officer last month, she said.
Solicitor Brackett said Sunday's incident was a "last straw" for the mother.
"This family has been living with this problem for much longer than this incident, and I would hate for the larger issue to get obscured behind everyone making fun of arresting a kid over opening a Christmas gift early," he said.
A plea for help
Brackett said he sees the mother's action as a plea for help.
"She obviously didn't know how to control this child and didn't know where else to turn," he said.
He has heard of other cases where parents have called police for children running away, refusing to go to school, using drugs, drinking, stealing or running around throughout the night and getting in trouble with other kids.
Dest said the boy's case will proceed through the judicial system with an initial court appearance, which could be followed by a court date.
"We would look at his case and prior record and make a decision based on that about whether he would go to court or be a placed in our juvenile arbitration program," Dest said about a program geared toward first-time nonviolent offenders. "They go into the program and are given sanctions (tasks) to complete."
Failure to complete means they will have to go to court. Completion means they won't have a juvenile record."
Brackett said the problem is about more than a child opening a Christmas gift.
"There's a larger problem behind all of this," he said. "There needs to be options for parents in crisis over their kids."
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 7, 2006 at 5:08 AM
| link to this | reply
Corbin
after reading the description of the kid's history, I strongly suspect that there's is something clinically wrong with him! It sounds very much like a case I am familiar with - it turned out that the kid was schizophrenic...
posted by
Nautikos
on December 7, 2006 at 4:57 AM
| link to this | reply
yeah, i saw that article too. i can't help but feel there's still lots of
information missing from the story. was the mother drinking or doing drugs as a fifteen year old, affecting the baby in the womb? what kind of healthy interaction are they involved in when she's not working or is he only entertained with toys. what's her role in all of this?
yes, no doubt, single parenting is hard and coming home exhausted from work then having to deal with a child can take you around the bend, but it's still the mom's responsibilty. there was never a moment in the article where i felt she felt remorse for all that's come to be, that she's in any way accountable, made more obvious (i think) by her choice to allow the gift of a gameboy, when she already thought of him as not deserving.
like the beatles sang, can't buy me love, no.
posted by
fourcats
on December 7, 2006 at 12:08 AM
| link to this | reply
pets.....
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 6, 2006 at 6:09 PM
| link to this | reply
CD
Why aren't you having a tree?
posted by
Offy
on December 6, 2006 at 6:08 PM
| link to this | reply
absolutely - no remorse - no emotion is dangerous
posted by
ladychardonnay
on December 6, 2006 at 5:52 PM
| link to this | reply
Lady.....
When I read that....my mind fast-forwarded to 20 years from now, hearing that same line being used by the prosecutor in a murder case.....
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 6, 2006 at 5:49 PM
| link to this | reply
janesopinion is the most important one
NO EMOTION - which really means he will probably start a bad path of no remorse. someone needs to step in - maybe a faimliy member - a church leader - someone.
posted by
ladychardonnay
on December 6, 2006 at 5:24 PM
| link to this | reply
Parenting is one of the most difficult tasks...
posted by
A-and-B
on December 6, 2006 at 5:21 PM
| link to this | reply
There are no easy answers-
But I feel sorry for this family.
posted by
Passionflower
on December 6, 2006 at 4:22 PM
| link to this | reply
I agree that what's seriously lacking is a good male role model.
I am concerned that the article said the kid showed no emotion. Not sure I would have gone so far, but it is evident that they care for him and did not know what else to do. For sure he needs a good whuppin' behind the shed.
posted by
JanesOpinion
on December 6, 2006 at 3:14 PM
| link to this | reply
Corbin Dallas
I don't know this mother, this child. I know a fifteen year old does not know how to raise the child from the beginning. There are red flags in here: He needs and wants attention. Of course he does. His mother was not grown up and has needed the attention it appears. A rap sheet is not a teaching tool. She was in church. What sort of church is it that does not help her and talk with her about what may be her problems. It is difficult to be a single parent, mostly due to the fact most children may not get the attention they need. Mothers working and finishing school don't have enough time, they need community, church and family (where was that?). This is a very good reason to teach abstinence in school! I don't know who is right but the boy is starved for love, more than game boy!
posted by
Justi
on December 6, 2006 at 1:37 PM
| link to this | reply
Corbin Dallas...
Scoop is correct that there are lots of single mothers not having this problem...but she
IS having this problem and I believe she literally doesn't know what else to do. I applaud her, the boy stole, he is a theif who is hell bent on a path of distruction it seems, he should be arrested. Kids will get away with whatever we allow them to, unless this child starts realizing consequences his bad behavior will continue to increase. It is very sad it came to this though.
posted by
A_Norseman
on December 6, 2006 at 10:16 AM
| link to this | reply
I think the Grinch just stole Christmas.
posted by
Jenasis
on December 6, 2006 at 10:08 AM
| link to this | reply
This is a sad case
here is a 27 year old mother, with no father in sight,trying to control a 12 year old, by having him arrested. But their are many other single parents going through the same scenario who handle the situation on their own. To me it is a waste of taxpayers money. Parents today rely on the schools, social services, or the police to raise their children. The kid needs help but in my opinion this is taking the wrong route.
posted by
scoop
on December 6, 2006 at 9:58 AM
| link to this | reply
My Dad would have made me give it to someone who deserved it more.....
BTW...he didn't just sneak a peek...to took it out and kept it......
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 6, 2006 at 8:07 AM
| link to this | reply
my dad would have thrown it in the fireplace
posted by
ladychardonnay
on December 6, 2006 at 7:45 AM
| link to this | reply
I do know what I would do as parent CD...I would have taken the darn thing and given to someone else...My Dad would have probably take it back.
posted by
Offy
on December 6, 2006 at 7:43 AM
| link to this | reply
last night was St. Nicolas Eve
and my daughter put her shoes out - i told her to put them back in her room. not this year. they will never stop if we don't punish them. you should have seen her face!!!
posted by
ladychardonnay
on December 6, 2006 at 7:39 AM
| link to this | reply
What was she doing buying him a gift in the first place?
I bet if you were a mummy wrapper in ancient Egypt,
one thing you would constantly find yourself telling people would be,
"Be sure, before I start, you have all the jewelry and so forth on the body,
because I am NOT unwrapping him later."
posted by
Mademoiselle
on December 6, 2006 at 7:37 AM
| link to this | reply
SW
EXACTLY!!! Maybe if parents would hold to their "threats" instead of just making threats the kids would respond. My own daughter was talking about that last night. She said that I never make threats that I do what I say. At least she gets that I won't play games. If I caught her looking, I would take the gifts back...no questions asked. Which is why I know she won't risk it.
posted by
bel_1965
on December 6, 2006 at 7:33 AM
| link to this | reply
bel, that's the thing isn't it? He'll get arrested and get a hand slap
And get the Gameboy for Christmas anyway.
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on December 6, 2006 at 7:20 AM
| link to this | reply
CD
I heard this on the news this morning...There seems to be no right answer here!
posted by
Offy
on December 6, 2006 at 7:07 AM
| link to this | reply
This is a waste of tax payer dollars in my opinion
Pam knows if I catch her looking she will find that everything has been returned. She knows I am not joking so she doesn't push her luck.
posted by
bel_1965
on December 6, 2006 at 7:07 AM
| link to this | reply
my first impression before i read the whole thing
was so what? we always sneaked peaks but my mother was too clever. she hid the gifts at grandma's house.
posted by
ladychardonnay
on December 6, 2006 at 7:05 AM
| link to this | reply
(sigh) "role mode"......always proof before you punch the button...
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 6, 2006 at 5:46 AM
| link to this | reply
Allyk
It usually is the major factor.....the absent father. No male roll model.
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on December 6, 2006 at 5:44 AM
| link to this | reply
I think that's what she's trying to do .......................
But it might be a better choice to get him some therapy. Sounds to me like he's angry at the world. Where's the father? That could be the root of the whole problem.
posted by
allyk
on December 6, 2006 at 5:37 AM
| link to this | reply
posted by
Ariala
on December 6, 2006 at 5:37 AM
| link to this | reply