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ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
Thu Jan 15, 2015, 11:13 PM Jan 2015

Idaho prosecutor: Arrest warrant for 9-year-old gum thief a mistake

A northern Idaho prosecutor says he made a mistake requesting an arrest warrant for a 9-year-old boy accused of stealing a pack of gum.

Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh in a statement Monday says his office should have instead sought a child protection investigation. He says that would have resulted in more information and a better-informed decision.

First Judicial District Judge Lansing Haynes authorized the warrant after the boy twice failed to show up in court.

Post Falls Police Chief Scott Haug says the child missed court because relatives had no way of getting him to the courthouse.

The boy was arrested Jan. 6 and held at a juvenile detention center, then released Friday after a court hearing.

McHugh says the case against the boy is still pending.

http://www.localnews8.com/news/idaho-prosecutor-arrest-warrant-for-9yearold-a-mistake/30679308


shades of jean valjean.

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Idaho prosecutor: Arrest warrant for 9-year-old gum thief a mistake (Original Post) ND-Dem Jan 2015 OP
He was held from Tuesday until Friday???? Suich Jan 2015 #1
really. that's what i thought was so telling. when i saw the headline, i thought the prosecutor ND-Dem Jan 2015 #5
Back in the day sarisataka Jan 2015 #2
I got caught stealing a candy bar from a corner store Suich Jan 2015 #7
I actually had my youngest daughter return the goods to the store and tell them she was sorry. OF jwirr Jan 2015 #22
Remind me to avoid going into Idaho 99th_Monkey Jan 2015 #3
No Doubt libodem Jan 2015 #4
After 14 years there 2naSalit Jan 2015 #26
He is well respected libodem Jan 2015 #28
At least he actually 2naSalit Jan 2015 #30
Wide-stance libodem Jan 2015 #31
He is just plain evil... 2naSalit Jan 2015 #32
Very interesting history libodem Jan 2015 #34
i noticed as soon as i left washington that idaho's roads sucked; and i passed through ND-Dem Jan 2015 #35
Lead poisoning libodem Jan 2015 #37
The bust was for missing two court dates, not stealing the gum jmowreader Jan 2015 #6
I understand not having transportation. Suich Jan 2015 #8
They held him for 22 hours, not three days jmowreader Jan 2015 #10
I'm kinda torn, too, now that you explained what really happened. Suich Jan 2015 #13
why would a night in jail help? and why would you think the people who arrested him ND-Dem Jan 2015 #16
Not knowing anything at all about the boy, Suich Jan 2015 #19
the family doesn't have a car. yet the law held the kid overnight in jail and some asshole ND-Dem Jan 2015 #36
why would he have a court date in the first place if not for stealing gum? ND-Dem Jan 2015 #9
He had the court date for stealing the gum, but the arrest warrant for skipping out on two dates jmowreader Jan 2015 #11
i think bringing a nine year old up on court charges for stealing a pack of gum is about as ND-Dem Jan 2015 #12
Some of my readers know this kid jmowreader Jan 2015 #14
he stole a pack of gum. and the kid was held in custody overnight, according to this report: ND-Dem Jan 2015 #15
It also says... jmowreader Jan 2015 #17
if someone tried to arrest my nine year old for stealing gum i wouldn't come to court either ND-Dem Jan 2015 #18
That's my own private Idaho for ya. nilesobek Jan 2015 #20
not appearing on a speeding ticket at 14? ND-Dem Jan 2015 #21
They picked me up on the bridge over the Snake River, nilesobek Jan 2015 #23
Wow you had to be walking really fast to get ticketed for speeding! benz380 Jan 2015 #24
I just didn't appear in court. nilesobek Jan 2015 #25
I think people were more confused about you driving at 14, since kids don't get a permit ND-Dem Jan 2015 #27
No, we used to get permits for driver's training at 14 libodem Jan 2015 #29
oh, that explains it. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #33
I know it's Idaho, but is this child black? bermudat Jan 2015 #38
Well, cops didn't gun him down in the street, so... Orrex Jan 2015 #40
I don't know about you, but I feel safer with this criminal behind bars Orrex Jan 2015 #39
 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
5. really. that's what i thought was so telling. when i saw the headline, i thought the prosecutor
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:04 AM
Jan 2015

was going to apologize for doing such a thing to a nine year old over a lousy pack of guy, but noooo.

sarisataka

(18,216 posts)
2. Back in the day
Thu Jan 15, 2015, 11:39 PM
Jan 2015

if you were caught stealing gum your parents would have you sweep the floor or wash some windows at the store...

They didn't seem to need the court to resolve the issue.

Suich

(10,642 posts)
7. I got caught stealing a candy bar from a corner store
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:52 AM
Jan 2015

when I was 9. I stuck it under my dress. My Mom found out and marched me right back down to the store and made me apologize to the owner.

Never stole another thing, ever! I don't even try a grape at the grocery store to see if they're any good!

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
22. I actually had my youngest daughter return the goods to the store and tell them she was sorry. OF
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 12:35 PM
Jan 2015

course that was along time ago. She actually ended up working in that store when she got in high school.

 

99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)
3. Remind me to avoid going into Idaho
Thu Jan 15, 2015, 11:39 PM
Jan 2015

This kind of shit makes me ashamed to be an American; that some of
my "fellow US citizens" could be so petty, so vindictive, so mean-spirited
as to put a 9 year old through this kind of ordeal, over a fucking pack
of gum.

2naSalit

(86,054 posts)
26. After 14 years there
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 08:23 PM
Jan 2015

I bailed and jumped over the continental divide. Not all that much better here, but a little bit. I remember Cecil Andrus as Gov., I actually liked him.

2naSalit

(86,054 posts)
30. At least he actually
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 08:49 PM
Jan 2015

thought about those who weren't part of the LDS faction who now totally rules the state. And I was in favor of his efforts to consider the environmental treasure Idaho is as well. I would consider a return if someone similar were elected but right now we have to wait for butch to drop dead since he doesn't seem to think his reign is near ending any time soon. I may have to wait for Kempthorne and Sen. wide-stance to roll over too since they know me on sight and have a genuine negative regard for me. I know they aren't in office anymore but they are still major under the radar opponents of mine and any activity regarding my concerns in Idaho would surely come to their attention.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
31. Wide-stance
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 08:55 PM
Jan 2015

Worked his way into Republican party politics by becoming the party treasurer. If you can believe that.

Butch is hellish.

2naSalit

(86,054 posts)
32. He is just plain evil...
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 09:05 PM
Jan 2015

widestance that is. I recall he was making a presentation to my graduate class and he spotted me among the students. He decided to have us all introduce ourselves and tell what we were studying. I stated my name but lied - a little - about what I was studying. He glared at me while I spoke, from the point where I stated my name... because he already knew it and already had a serious hate on for me. All my fellow classmates looked at me and wondered why he was so interested in what I said. He kept glaring at me the whole time. I had mentioned to my prof. that I might not be well received. I think it may have been a factor in my not being able to form a committee for the doctoral program, which was why I left in the end.

Butch is an asshole at best, a vindictive and spiteful asshole.

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
35. i noticed as soon as i left washington that idaho's roads sucked; and i passed through
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 03:56 AM
Jan 2015

a town that reminded me of the movie "deliverance". it was a one horse town running through a kind of canyon, with shacks built on either side and apparently mentally challenged people sitting on the stoops staring at me.

at least in memory.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
37. Lead poisoning
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 12:31 PM
Jan 2015

From the mines. Poor goofs. Even if most go to school they can't speak the king's English.


It ain't. It don't. I seen. Them-selfs. Are typical.

jmowreader

(50,451 posts)
6. The bust was for missing two court dates, not stealing the gum
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:42 AM
Jan 2015

The boy lives in the city of Post Falls. The courthouse is in the city of Coeur d'Alene. It's roughly 10 miles from Post Falls to the courthouse, and the family doesn't have a car.

The police chief in Post Falls says if his department would have known the situation BEFORE the kid missed two court dates, he would have provided them transportation to court. And probably if the prosecutor would have known the situation, HE would have taken care of the transport.

Suich

(10,642 posts)
8. I understand not having transportation.
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 03:54 AM
Jan 2015

Any idea why they held the kid for 3 days? He seems pretty young for that kind of treatment.

jmowreader

(50,451 posts)
10. They held him for 22 hours, not three days
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:16 AM
Jan 2015
http://cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_011f48ae-f809-5173-9512-c1cbf3ecd900.html

He was picked up at 8:15 pm on January 6, went to court at 4:17 pm on Jan. 7, and was released to his family at 6:08 pm on Jan. 7.

Some of my readers know this kid and his family; this is apparently not the first run-in that bunch, or this child, has had with the law. I'm really torn here: the crime was not huge and there were plenty of mitigating circumstances so a night in jail is really harsh...but what if it convinced him to get his act together once and for all?

Suich

(10,642 posts)
13. I'm kinda torn, too, now that you explained what really happened.
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:25 AM
Jan 2015

Sounds like the kid could use some mentoring. Hopefully, a night in jail helped. Who knows?

Thanks for filling me in!

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
16. why would a night in jail help? and why would you think the people who arrested him
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:51 AM
Jan 2015

would mentor him?

apparently the kid and his family have some kind of reputation among the good white Mormons of that community such that holding a nine-year-old overnight in jail is considered just.

Suich

(10,642 posts)
19. Not knowing anything at all about the boy,
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 05:14 AM
Jan 2015

his family or the community where he lives, I thought a night in jail might "scare him straight," for lack of better wording.

I never thought the people who arrested him would mentor him. I was thinking maybe someone who had experience with juvenile offenders.

Peace.

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
36. the family doesn't have a car. yet the law held the kid overnight in jail and some asshole
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 03:57 AM
Jan 2015

in the press keeps saying he knows the family and the kid deserves it.

the family is poor. the law is an ass.

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
9. why would he have a court date in the first place if not for stealing gum?
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:09 AM
Jan 2015

why was he held for days? why is there still a 'case' against him? he's a nine year old and it's a pack of gum.

jmowreader

(50,451 posts)
11. He had the court date for stealing the gum, but the arrest warrant for skipping out on two dates
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:18 AM
Jan 2015

He was only held for 22 hours; no idea where the "held for days" thing comes from.

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
12. i think bringing a nine year old up on court charges for stealing a pack of gum is about as
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:22 AM
Jan 2015

bad and counter productive as arresting him for it.

only 22 hours. a nine year old.

jmowreader

(50,451 posts)
14. Some of my readers know this kid
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:43 AM
Jan 2015

This is not the first time he's stolen.

For a first offense...you're absolutely right, going through the whole court thing is overkill. For a repeat offense, they need to do something stronger than just telling him not to do it again.

jmowreader

(50,451 posts)
17. It also says...
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:52 AM
Jan 2015

A warrant had been issued for his arrest after two court appearances came and went and the boy wasn't able to attend either one.

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
18. if someone tried to arrest my nine year old for stealing gum i wouldn't come to court either
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 04:55 AM
Jan 2015

and apparently the prosecutor thought it was ridiculous and counter-productive too


Post Falls Police Chief Scott Haug says the child missed court because relatives had no way of getting him to the courthouse.


poor, what a surprise

nilesobek

(1,423 posts)
20. That's my own private Idaho for ya.
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 07:54 AM
Jan 2015

I went to jail when I was 14 for not appearing on a speeding ticket, that was 37 years ago but I remember it vividly.

They put me in with adults without batting an eye. Then, later on that night, around beer thirty, they brought in a woman who was drunk driving. The cops were yelling, "blow on that tube!" And the woman said, "blow it yourself, put your mouth on that filthy tube." And that was it. The cops started beating her and the cries filled the jail and the pounding of her went on for hours. I truly thought I had descended into a torture chamber. I'm not sure if my weekend in jail was good for me or not but when I went back to the judge he seemed displeased that I had adjusted to jail already.

nilesobek

(1,423 posts)
23. They picked me up on the bridge over the Snake River,
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 06:56 PM
Jan 2015

I was walking with my girlfriend. That was 1978.

nilesobek

(1,423 posts)
25. I just didn't appear in court.
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 07:07 PM
Jan 2015

They must have had different rules then about mixing adults and teens but maybe there were no rules and they threw everyone in the tank.

 

ND-Dem

(4,571 posts)
27. I think people were more confused about you driving at 14, since kids don't get a permit
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 08:31 PM
Jan 2015

til 16.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
29. No, we used to get permits for driver's training at 14
Fri Jan 16, 2015, 08:46 PM
Jan 2015

In Idaho back in the 70's. Its a backwards agricultural state.

Parents needed their kids to be able to drive tractors and pick ups for farm work.

bermudat

(1,329 posts)
38. I know it's Idaho, but is this child black?
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 01:44 PM
Jan 2015

For those of you who think it is ok for a 9yr be arrested and stay in custody for 23hrs - you are
as big a monster as that DA. Reading this comments on a supposed liberal site - Dayyyum.

Orrex

(63,084 posts)
39. I don't know about you, but I feel safer with this criminal behind bars
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 01:52 PM
Jan 2015

Good work, DA McHugh. Good work.

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