Can he be rehabilitated?

[Gellis Indigo]

13-Year-Old Faces 128 Felony Counts

AP
NELSONVILLE, Ohio (March 14) - A 13-year-old boy is charged in juvenile court with 128 felonies in what police call a small-town crime spree.

The boy, in juvenile detention pending a pretrial hearing later this month, faces delinquency counts of burglary, theft, vandalism and witness intimidation.

"In my 30 years of doing this, I've never had a juvenile that young with so many charges," Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren said Tuesday.

Police accuse the boy of breaking into homes and businesses in Nelsonville, a small, rural town 55 miles southeast of Columbus, and of stealing checks from elderly residents, Warren said.

He also is accused of beating one of the witnesses who turned him in, Warren said.

At least three other youths, one of them 10 years old, also have been charged, Warren said.

The boy could be freed at 21 even if he is convicted of all 128 counts, prosecutors said.

"We either get him rehabilitated now in the juvenile system or we will be dealing with him for the rest of his life," Warren said.


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press

[Mistress Morigianna]

is he part ofthe - "I saw it on tv and what are they gonna do - I'm a kid" generation?

[Bean]

It's also the "I don't have to take responsibility for my actions because I'm just a kid" excuse, too.

[moiradochartaigh]

And the parents who are supposed to be providing the care, supervision and moral training for this kid are..... where? :unamused:

Wonder what their excuse is?

[Isabelle Warwicke]

How long does it take to rack up 128 felonies? Where the hell were his parental units while he was on his crime spree?

Yikes.

[Ysobelle]

I think it's safe to say we're not talking about a "normal" kid, here. I wouldn't be surprised if his parents are absolutely in despair about it. Or, yeah, they may be absent. I just think we need to hear more before we judge. We all know parents who've tried EVERYTHING short of chaining the kid up, and he still turns out bad.

Oh, and the comment about "take care of him now or we'll be dealing with him the rest of his life"? I'm thinking they're not mutually exclusive.

[DameGoode]

Yeah Yso, I was going to say that it sounds likes we have a psychologically disabled kid. I'm guessing he is not wired for empathy. Kids like these are UNABLE to understand how others are feeling. They are self centered because there IS no other way to be. So, why not beat up a witness, if it gets me what I want? They like beating up people because the people treat them differently (fear, respect, dislike) or will give them what they want. In their head, "You're crying because I hit you." rather than, "You're crying because you are humiliated and your arm hurts."

Does this excuse the behavior? No. However, this poor kid (yes I will say that) needed treatment and behavior modification with a speedy diagnosis YEARS and YEARS ago. You can't grow a consicience, BUT with proper work can be taught to follow a process to appear to have one.

Can he be rehabilitated? Interesing question. If you mean rehabilitation he will get "better", then no. Rehabilitated as in he can join society without hurting anyone person, animal, or property, MAYBE, I hope so. But it's going to take a lot of work and cooperation between MANY professionals, not to mention the willing intention of the young man himself.

Interesting post, thanks!

[Torra]

DameGoode, that was a very interesting reply and with what the story says, it certainly makes sense. But as Yso said, this isn't the whole story. In such a small, rural area, until they move, that kid is never going to be associated with again (if he was before) even if they rehabilitate him. Though, with 128 counts at age 13, I get the feeling he'll be seeing a lot of prisons.

[daBaroness]

The first question I used to ask in scenarios similar to this was always, "Where the HELL are the parents?!" But through my own experiences with both of my sons, I've realized the answer probably varies from case to case. While it's easier to believe, and probably to stomach, an answer that the parent is absent or stoned or incapicitated or doesn't care - it's sadly not always the answer.

Kids who are raised well by good people oftentimes make stupid choices or do bad things and their parents suffer greatly - not only because of what the child has done, but because of the rushed and harsh judgements of others. I've sadly learned that just because I don't want my sons to make stupid choices, or do stupid things doesn't mean they won't. And yes, they do know better - intellectually. They just lack the life experience and good sense that overrides their actions.

And some kids - they're just horrible anomolies in family units that are otherwise really positive, strong and well-functioning. Sometimes it's just plain old bad genetics - nature overrides nurture. Sometimes it's raging mental dysfunction that manifests itself in ways families have neither the means, nor the expertise to handle. Sometimes these kids are so psychopathic they've got their family, friends, even so-called experts and authorities fooled.

Look at the Ted Bundy's of the world. Or for us here in the Heartland Region - the BTK killer. Here was a man who was a deacon and leader in his church; a civil servant by day. A husband, a father, a grandfather. Over a 20 year period he plotted and executed the murder of 10 people (that he's admitted to) in grizzley fashion and then resumed his normal, almost boring life - and nobody knew. In fact, had he not, in his sickness, given law enforcement more clues - he'd most likely have gone to his grave with no one the wiser. He devastated his family, shocked his friends, coworkers and fellow parishioners. His confessions in court and his non-emotional description of how he conducted each murder, including the stalking and meticulous planning of the torture he inflicted were soul-jarring. How could another human being do this horrible thing and feel no remorse?!

These kids who are so graphically acting out do indeed need MAJOR help. Sadly, I wonder if any amount of therapy and time can heal the young perpetrators? What kind of pain or horrors must they experience to bring them to the point of cold-blooded murder, torture, etc., at such young ages?