Aa
Well she got a year in a detention center so that should be ok...
MILWAUKEE (AP) - A Milwaukee girl accused of stabbing and killing her step-grandfather at age 13 for pouring her milk down the drain admitted to the charge Tuesday, offering the juvenile equivalent of a guilty plea and receiving a sentence of at least one year of detention.
The girl, now 15, originally was charged in adult court with first-degree intentional homicide. She would have faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted there, although she may have been eligible for parole.
Instead, as part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to recommend that her case be sent to juvenile court. In return, the girl admitted to the charge.
She was sentenced in juvenile court to supervision by the Department of Corrections for at least one year, and could remain under supervision until her 25th birthday depending on factors that include conduct and compliance with treatments.
The Associated Press had identified the girl when her case was in adult court. The AP is no longer identifying her because she was convicted in juvenile court, where identities are confidential.
Public defender Robin Dorman said the girl and her family were relieved the case finally was resolved.
A message left with the prosecutor was not immediately returned.
The girl was accused of stabbing her 48-year-old step-grandfather in the summer of 2009. Prosecutors said the man poured enough milk for the baby of the house and discarded the rest although he knew the girl wanted it for her cereal.
The man took the milk he poured to the living room, apparently to prepare it for the baby, prosecutors said.
A witness told authorities the girl then grabbed a paring knife from the sink and charged after him. The witness said the girl swung at the man and he stepped back covered in blood, gasping weakly that he'd been stabbed in the neck.
Authorities said a neighbor heard a commotion, then saw the girl step outside with blood on her.
The girl has said she argued with the man but stabbed him only after he began choking her, said Joy Sherard, her other public defender.
"She has maintained that from the very beginning," Sherard said. "There was a history there."
The girl's family had described her as a troubled teenager who couldn't get the help she needed.
Sherard told the AP that county officials had intervened in the household on several occasions in the past.
The girl, now 15, originally was charged in adult court with first-degree intentional homicide. She would have faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted there, although she may have been eligible for parole.
Instead, as part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to recommend that her case be sent to juvenile court. In return, the girl admitted to the charge.
She was sentenced in juvenile court to supervision by the Department of Corrections for at least one year, and could remain under supervision until her 25th birthday depending on factors that include conduct and compliance with treatments.
The Associated Press had identified the girl when her case was in adult court. The AP is no longer identifying her because she was convicted in juvenile court, where identities are confidential.
Public defender Robin Dorman said the girl and her family were relieved the case finally was resolved.
A message left with the prosecutor was not immediately returned.
The girl was accused of stabbing her 48-year-old step-grandfather in the summer of 2009. Prosecutors said the man poured enough milk for the baby of the house and discarded the rest although he knew the girl wanted it for her cereal.
The man took the milk he poured to the living room, apparently to prepare it for the baby, prosecutors said.
A witness told authorities the girl then grabbed a paring knife from the sink and charged after him. The witness said the girl swung at the man and he stepped back covered in blood, gasping weakly that he'd been stabbed in the neck.
Authorities said a neighbor heard a commotion, then saw the girl step outside with blood on her.
The girl has said she argued with the man but stabbed him only after he began choking her, said Joy Sherard, her other public defender.
"She has maintained that from the very beginning," Sherard said. "There was a history there."
The girl's family had described her as a troubled teenager who couldn't get the help she needed.
Sherard told the AP that county officials had intervened in the household on several occasions in the past.
On a side note...with regards to the 12 year old boy suspected of killing his family? His uncle and another family member are being interviewed tonight on Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN, 9pm est.
And I think that all these points are good ones. I am not saying that all kids can be rehabilitated, just that often there are circumstances that we don't always hear about. With an adult that has a clear definition of right and wrong I not only believe in accountability, I also believe in punishment, and that it should fit the crime. I just think with kids more needs to be done to try to find out why this happened. There brains are still forming and often really awful behaviours can be corrected. I think it's preferable then just locking them up. I mean, lets face it, they won't be locked up forever anyway, and many of these detention centers just teach them to be more hardened. So yes, there needs to be accountability and punishment, but more facts are required.
Teko, yes, there sure does seem to be an increase in violence. I think in many cases we have less involved parents. We see so many kids who are essentially raising themselves, and their lessons are coming from peers and TV/video games as opposed to parental involvement. I truly believe there is something to kids become really desensitized to violence at a really young age now. It's pretty scary...if they are this way as kids and no help is given, I can just see what will happen as adults. And I think things are getting worse, not better. No discipline in the home, heck half the time the kids we see, their parents don't even know where they are. We are seriously addressing our youth programs now..we need more of them. We have to get to these kids early, before it gets to this point.
Teko, yes, there sure does seem to be an increase in violence. I think in many cases we have less involved parents. We see so many kids who are essentially raising themselves, and their lessons are coming from peers and TV/video games as opposed to parental involvement. I truly believe there is something to kids become really desensitized to violence at a really young age now. It's pretty scary...if they are this way as kids and no help is given, I can just see what will happen as adults. And I think things are getting worse, not better. No discipline in the home, heck half the time the kids we see, their parents don't even know where they are. We are seriously addressing our youth programs now..we need more of them. We have to get to these kids early, before it gets to this point.
This girl was what, 13 when she committed this act? To me, it would take at least 13 years of intensive therapy... perhaps much longer in order to "rehabilitate" this child. By no means am I qualified to determine what kind of therapy and how much is needed, and there's no telling what has gone on in this child's life that led to this.
But I have got to tell you.... I have a 14 year old whom I believe is pretty grounded. (Probably a bit naive on my behalf.) This kid has come to us with some problems and questions that leave me feeling that I have been a pretty good parent. I have a relationship with both of my kids that is such, that they feel comfortable coming to either their mother or myself with their problems.
But I have got to tell you.... I have a 14 year old whom I believe is pretty grounded. (Probably a bit naive on my behalf.) This kid has come to us with some problems and questions that leave me feeling that I have been a pretty good parent. I have a relationship with both of my kids that is such, that they feel comfortable coming to either their mother or myself with their problems.
last week the 12 year old boy shot his parents and 2 little brothers. The parents died. I see rehabilitating kids but kids that have killed. Well, I don't know how you come back from there
I could understand trying to rehab a kid that had been abused all their life or some other traumatic event, but killing over a glass of spilled milk is a little over the top imo. So again, until more facts are revealed I say there has got to be more to this story? Surely..... And has anyone noticed the uptick of kids killing people in the last couple of years or is it just me.
Oh come on Mel, you can't be that cynical. Your too young for that..lol. We have no idea what is happening in this kids life. She did something awful, but isn't it better if they can get help and become members of society? Rehabilitation is possible...lots of kids do stupid things and even violent things, but can go on to have good lives with proper intervention. Some kids never get it right and go on to become adult criminals for sure..but shouldn't be at least try? We don't know her history or what has gone on in her young life. She's screwed up, no doubt, but maybe she can make it.
I have a 14 year old, I say this girl... well, lets just say I am glad she doesn't live in my neighborhood. But no worries soon she will be a teenage mom and we let them do whatever they want to their kids
Much depends on the child involved, but I do think that where ever possible, young offenders should be treated and an attempt at rehabilitation rather then just punishment. Punishment does have to be a part of it though as accountability is important. I don't think we should be too quick to lock em up and throw away the key.
Kids do stupid and impulsive things. At that age we know their brains are fully functioning and good decisions are not always there. Again, every situation is different, but I do think an evaluation should be done (mental health wise) and an attempt at rehabilitation if its possible. And what if he really did attempt to choke her?
Kids do stupid and impulsive things. At that age we know their brains are fully functioning and good decisions are not always there. Again, every situation is different, but I do think an evaluation should be done (mental health wise) and an attempt at rehabilitation if its possible. And what if he really did attempt to choke her?
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