This is horrible: 11 year old girl charged with felony for hitting boy with rock in self-defense (God bless America)

1) Any such law would be a state law, rather than a federal issue.
2) I don't know if any states have such laws; usually such matters come down to the individual newspaper's/wire service's/other news outlet's policies on underage defendants and accusers.
3) Welcome to zero-tolerance country.

This is a case where the police department "overreacted and won't back down," Beshwate said. "I don't know if they don't like Spanish speakers, if it's racism, or if they were having a bad day. But how can you defend this kind of behavior?"

"Another police officer told ABC News that the girl, when asked what she thought would happen if she threw the stone, replied that it would make him "bleed"."

Can we stop pretending that all the horrifying racists in the country live in the South now?

(also TOMBOT OTM)

Oh for fuck's sake.

Er....

I mean, really, i don't see the problem here.

Is this even allowed? No matter who is being charged, don't you have to read their rights in a language that they understand?

That's just one other way that this story is fucked. Dumbass cops.

Just in case she were to try to make a run for the border on her BIG WHEEL.

A young boy was arrested and locked up for three hours by police after brandishing a toy gun at school.

Earl Crump, 11, pointed the plastic firearm at another boy and told him to "hand over the money" in the playground during a school break.

The frightened schoolmate ran away and told teachers at Cheyne Middle School in Sittingbourne, Kent, yesterday (MON).

Police officers already dealing with another incident at the school arrested the 11-year-old and took him to Sittingbourne police station.

He was then searched, had a DNA sample and fingerprints taken, and put in a police cell for three hours before being released without charge.

His mother Tracey Crump, of Sheerness, Kent, believes the punishment was too harsh for a schoolboy prank.

She said: "It was too severe a punishment for an 11-year-old boy just playing in the playground." But headteacher Peter Woollacott, who has suspended the boy for three days, said school policy does not allow weapons or imitation weapons to be brought beyond its gates.

He said: "We take it very seriously if children bring in weapons or imitation weapons because of the nature of the world at the moment."

ends
+++

oh what fun to mug your mates

(I'm divided on that story because, from my experience of eleven-year-olds, the other child could have been honestly frightened because he believed it was a real gun, honestly frightened as the er 'character' he was playing in a game, or telling teachers about the gun in order to get the other kid into the shit. or all of these at once. Still, at least it'll hopefully deter more kids from bringing imitation firearms into school.)

-- Raston Worrier Robot (lixibel...), July 19th, 2005 4:57 AM. (alix) (later) (link)

I beg your fucking pardon? My middle name is Earl.

This posted yesterday:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050803/ap_on_re_us/girl_charged

Calif. Girl, 11, Avoids Felony Trial

By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer
Wed Aug 3, 7:07 PM ET

FRESNO, Calif. - An 11-year-old girl who threw a rock at a boy during a water balloon fight escaped jail time Wednesday on a felony assault with a deadly weapon charge after lawyers worked out a deal in the emotionally charged case.

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Maribel Cuevas was ordered to meet with her young victim and talk about the fight under the deal — reached on the same day the girl was to stand trial in juvenile court. She did not have to plead guilty, and the charges will be dismissed if she stays in school and keeps out of trouble.

Maribel spent five days in juvenile hall and a month under house arrest after throwing a 2-pound rock at 8-year-old Elijah Vang, cutting his forehead after he pelted her with a water balloon in April. The gash required Elijah to receive stitches.

Police responded with three cars while a helicopter hovered overhead, and said they arrested Maribel for resisting arrest and scratching an officer's arm. Police described the rock as "jagged" and measuring 5.5 inches by 3.75 inches.

Top brass on the force defended the response, but others took up Maribel's cause, saying it was no way to treat a childish crime. Supporters gathered outside the court, chanting "Free Maribel," and singing "We Shall Overcome."

As she awaited her hearing, the girl dressed in pink sweat pants, a white sweat shirt and pink flip-flops was handed a bouquet of flowers.

Maribel's father, Martin Cuevas, said in Spanish after the proceeding that his daughter was not a criminal and had acted in self-defense.

"I think everything will be fine," Martin Cuevas said in Spanish. "This way she'll be able to stay with my wife and me and go to school normally."

As part of the agreement, the two children, with their parents present, will talk about what happened. The girl's lawyer said his main goal was to prevent her from pleading guilty to a crime.

"They did not require any admission of wrongdoing, and once that obstacle was removed, the case was settled appropriately," said defense lawyer Richard Beshwate Jr.

Elijah's family, which has since moved away, declined to press charges, but were prepared to testify for the prosecution.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Michelle Griggs said her office decided to proceed without a trial because of the girl's age and because the Vang family wanted the matter resolved so they can return to their neighborhood "in a way that is safe so all these children can coexist together."

Kimberly Nystrom-Geist, a court commissioner who presided over the hearing, said the order requiring Maribel and Elijah to talk about what happened "would be the most appropriate resolution to this matter. It allows Maribel to go back to the neighborhood and make amends."

In an interview Wednesday, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer stood by the actions of his officers.

"It has always been our intention to ensure that the right thing is done. The right thing is not always the popular thing," he said, adding the department has nearly completed its internal review.

"If we truly love our children we need to hold them accountable," he said.

where's dr phil to say that she just needs several good spankings? and then jail time?

I sincerely hope that Little Maribel is not the only one who learns a valuable lesson from this experience.

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http://www.jayzonline.com/media/pictures/43.jpg

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