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Boy sentenced for gum wrapper spitball
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Boy sentenced for gum wrapper spitball
By MICHELLE R. SMITH Associated Press Writer
Published 8:00 p.m. PDT Thursday, June 6, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A 13-year-old boy was sentenced Thursday for hitting another boy in the eye with a gum wrapper spitball.
Jeffrey Figueroa was sentenced to six days in juvenile hall, put on probation and ordered to contribute 150 hours of community service at an eye bank. He also was ordered not to make any more spitballs, according to his mother, Yvette Figueroa.
Jeffrey and his parents were also ordered to undergo anger management counseling. His parents also must take parenting classes.
Jeffrey was facing up to eight years in juvenile hall after being convicted on felony charges of battery and mayhem for hitting a classmate at Walnut Creek Intermediate School with the gum wrapper.
The boy who was hit had to have surgery after the September incident.
Jeffrey's older brother, Stephen, 14, who was convicted on a lesser charge in a separate incident involving the same boy, was sentenced to five days in juvenile hall, community service and counseling. Contra Costa County prosecutors called more than 20 neighbors who complained about the boys' behavior.
Yvette Figueroa said the fact that both incidents involved the same boy was a coincidence. She said her sons definitely had to learn a lesson, but the punishment far exceeded the crime.
"I'm not saying my kids are angels," she said. "Mistakes are part of growing up. Are we allowed to (make mistakes) or not without being crucified?"
Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Araceli Ramirez harshly criticized the Figueroas for talking to reporters about their sons' plight.
"I think her mind was made up before we even got there," Yvette Figueroa said.
The mother said the family would appeal the conviction to try to keep their 13-year-old from having two felonies "hanging over his head."
Their boys' father, Steve Figueroa, said he'd make sure his children stayed on the right side of the law.
"These kids aren't going to get in any trouble. We're going to make sure of it," he said. "We're going to keep them in the house." http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/3136922p-4179403c.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By MICHELLE R. SMITH Associated Press Writer
Published 8:00 p.m. PDT Thursday, June 6, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A 13-year-old boy was sentenced Thursday for hitting another boy in the eye with a gum wrapper spitball.
Jeffrey Figueroa was sentenced to six days in juvenile hall, put on probation and ordered to contribute 150 hours of community service at an eye bank. He also was ordered not to make any more spitballs, according to his mother, Yvette Figueroa.
Jeffrey and his parents were also ordered to undergo anger management counseling. His parents also must take parenting classes.
Jeffrey was facing up to eight years in juvenile hall after being convicted on felony charges of battery and mayhem for hitting a classmate at Walnut Creek Intermediate School with the gum wrapper.
The boy who was hit had to have surgery after the September incident.
Jeffrey's older brother, Stephen, 14, who was convicted on a lesser charge in a separate incident involving the same boy, was sentenced to five days in juvenile hall, community service and counseling. Contra Costa County prosecutors called more than 20 neighbors who complained about the boys' behavior.
Yvette Figueroa said the fact that both incidents involved the same boy was a coincidence. She said her sons definitely had to learn a lesson, but the punishment far exceeded the crime.
"I'm not saying my kids are angels," she said. "Mistakes are part of growing up. Are we allowed to (make mistakes) or not without being crucified?"
Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Araceli Ramirez harshly criticized the Figueroas for talking to reporters about their sons' plight.
"I think her mind was made up before we even got there," Yvette Figueroa said.
The mother said the family would appeal the conviction to try to keep their 13-year-old from having two felonies "hanging over his head."
Their boys' father, Steve Figueroa, said he'd make sure his children stayed on the right side of the law.
"These kids aren't going to get in any trouble. We're going to make sure of it," he said. "We're going to keep them in the house." http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/3136922p-4179403c.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
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