Posted on 10/31/2007 10:03:17 AM PDT by nmh
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Officials blamed a wildfire that consumed more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes last week on a boy playing with matches, and said they would ask a prosecutor to consider the case.
The boy, whose name and age were not released, admitted to sparking the fire on Oct. 21, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said Tuesday. Ferocious winds helped it quickly spread.
"He admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire," Hecht said in a statement.
The boy was released to his parents, and the case will be presented to the district attorney's office, Hecht said. It was not clear if he had been arrested or cited by detectives.
The fire began in an area near Agua Dulce and quickly spread. It was among 15 or so major wildfires that destroyed some 2,100 homes and blackened 809 square miles from Los Angeles to the Mexican border last week. Seven deaths were blamed directly on the fires, six evacuees died of natural causes and one person died of a fall.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
How old a boy? Isn’t it unusuall to withhold the age as well as the name?
If it’s a six year old kid, bad luck, but let him off. If it’s a teenage punk, charge him. Something in between, who knows?
How old a boy? Isn’t it unusuall to withhold the age as well as the name?
If it’s a six year old kid, bad luck, but let him off. If it’s a teenage punk, charge him. Something in between, who knows?
It is unusual to withhold name. If they do not prosecute, it will send a bad message.
In CA we do not release the name unless the juvenile is charged as an adult. But this is the first time I recall the age was not disclosed.
He should be accompanied by a few kids who lost their homes from the fires just to keep him "on track".
We have to make an example of this kid as a warning to others not to do the same. It’s what they call a teachable moment.
Age is important but what good will it do to prosecute? It’s ironic though that they don’t know what to do but if a six y/o had taken a toy gun to school or even drawn a picture of one he might have already been arrested.
Hopefully his parents will be required to help pay for some of the fire-fighting expenses, at least.
Can’t be. They are lying. Blackwater did it. /sarc
In case you don’t know, some liberal radio hosts say Blackwater did it.
Isn’t it unusuall to withhold the age as well as the name?I don't think any state releases the names of juvenile offenders. Sometimes reporters publish it if it's already widely known.
He is a kid after all and kids make mistakes. A scarlet letter on him won't do anybody any good. His punishment needs to fit his age as well as his crime.
It looks like it’s a MINOR.
WHERE oh WHERE were the PARENTS?
I say community service to the MINOR and the PARENTS and some sort of restitution by the parents not not watching their kid. Unless it’s Bill Gates the parents won’t be able to pay enough or compensate for the DEATHS of others or business interuption or the COST of this tragedy or how rates will go UP, nationwide but a painful amount should be determined.
Too often we WINK at PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they made the kid a “hero” for telling the truth and the parents for telling the police - than all will be forgiven - like it never happened.
Well they prosecute for the things you just stated - here we have HOMES destroyed, people DEAD and we waver on some kind of punishment for the MINOR and the PARENTS. PARENTS are responsible for the MINOR children. Some how we need to make them live up to it. Or don’t have KIDS.
You can’t watch kids every second.
No, but you can TEACH them and keep an eye on them so they don’t get into trouble. Parents that do, have less problems - and that’s a FACT. Good communication and being INVOLVED with your kids stops stuff.
Even if there is no other punishment because of his age, at least make him go and an extended explanation and apology individually to the each of the 21 families who lost homes. Let him do it while standing in the midst of the ruins of each destroyed home.
I will say, however, that if he goes to school tomorrow and draws a picture of the policeman's gun, then he will be in BIG trouble.
They let the kid actors that started the Griffith Park 1 fire go....why prosecute these kids.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.