It was self defense, but your still guilty?

[Lancer]

Sorry this is long!My nephew, who's in the 6th grade, got 'jumped' buy another boy while walking home from school the other day. The story is that the other boy was telling everyone at school that he was going to kick my nephews (removed) after school. Typical kids stuff, most of us have been through this. Well, my nephew tried his best to avoid this kid, even though he is bigger, and even took a couple shots in the side and abdomen while tring to walk away. But when the other boy jumped on him and got on top, my nephew finally started fighting back. He got his belt off and started whacking him with it (not the buckle side, the end with the holes). My nephew fended off the bully and didn't think much about it afterwards. However, the now bruised bully went and ran home to mommy and told her that HE was jumped and beaten up by my nephew. She then calls the school liason officer. So today was the court date. The whole family thought it was pretty clear that it was self defense and overall, not a big deal. We had witnesses to the fact that this kid was threatening violence against my nephew. And witnesses to the fight that can verify who started it and who ended it. The judge said that because my nephew had a 'weapon', that he should have to serve 15-20 hours of community service, be on probation for 12 months (where he'd have to check in with a probation officer), write an apology letter, and have this all on his permenant record. Even though no charges were filed. We weren't allowed to hear the 'judgment' of the other kid.The judge went on to say how my nephew should have gone to a teacher about the threats and basicly should not have fought back and then go to the teaching staff or police liason officer.It was a good thing I had to work today. I wanted to go and help since I have some 'experiance' in court and my sister-in-law and her husband are not from this country and don't understand what you can and can't say to a judge. But after hearing what went down I think I might have been held in contempt from telling the judge to join the REAL WORLD!

[VforVIBE]

this sounds just wrong to me, sorry to hear that your nephew has to go though this

[coldmm803]

thats rediculous, having had 2.5 yrs of martial arts I realize that the belt is an unfair advantage but a 12 or 13 yr old does not (unless they have also taken martial arts).

[zionzr2]

i was told by a teacher once that if in a fight never throw "the Second punch"this may have severed well in this case but its a shame you cant even defend yourself this day in age

[Mavrik]

so basicly they wanted your nephew to take a beating and not defend himself. We all know what teachers do..."now joey... you know its wrong to hit people""I know... I promise not too"*leaves school and beats up nephew for being a tattletale*screw that. In the act of self defense and self preservation(sp) you have the right to use what you have by any means nessessary. Since he was wearing a belt, he had all right to take it off an use it. Its not like he found a pipe and beat the kid. Or pulled out a knife and stabbed him. Don't give up on this... fight the ruling. Your nephew doesn't need a record for something like this which isn't his fault.

[GMJAP]

This is the kind of complete BS that I'm afraid of when my kid starts school. I'm likely to deck someone before he graduates.

[tcam]

like what zionzr2 said, this kind of crap happens sooo much at young ages and it's a shame that our society has developed to the point where self-defense is considered worngful violence. i feel for u Lancer hope this thing gets sorted out, cuz it truly sounds like the judge gave an unfair ruling.on a second note, a lottttt of adults don't realize that for kids, sometimes telling the teacher makes everything worse. In fact, I don't think it has ever been beneficial for me or any friends. It only makes ur peers look down on you as being a tattle tale or make the bully even more angry and dangerous. lol

[redlava]

Thats the world of zero tolerance.

[new05vibeowner]

That ruling is the biggest load of BS I've heard in a while! My dad always told me, "Never start a fight, but if you get into one, you damn well better finish it!" If the court is serious about the community service and probation, I'd file a restraining order against the bully. THAT will speak volumes and keep the punk kid away from your nephew.

[Lancer]

Yeah, I've delt with court rooms a few times and every time it seems that the judge is a complete idiot. Instead of using commons sense (maybe not so common anymore!). they fo and follow the 'letter of the law'. My grandfather was presisdent of a creamery and cold storage plant, my father was vice president. My grandfather became 'friends' with these people that completely took advantage of him when he was in the hospital in Florida with a broken hip. Tricked him into signing everything over to them and 'sold' all his collector vehicles for $50. They fired my dad and ran the company into the ground but still made a fortune off of it. We took them to court and the judge just said that they got a good deal. We're still fighting that one.Then I had an ex girlfriend accuse me of 'stalking her. Actually her friends that didn't like me put her up to getting a restraing order on me. I went to fight it cause I didn't want to lose my firearms and she really had no case. Yeah we happend to be at the same place a couple times but I had an alibi and witnesses for every count she had for me. Judge said he didn't think I posed any threat to her. But still granted her the restraining order "just to be on the safe side". Needless to say I didn't go hunting that year.So, yeah. I have lost any and all faith in the judicial system long ago.The school district here is so pathetic, too. They expelled a boy that was in I think 1st grade for kissing another student. Also got listed as a 'sexual preditor'. BUT, another boy chased down my daughter (9 yrs. at the time) cornered her in the fence and started humping her. And he did this to 2 other girls. But when we went to complain and press charges, the school and the police said that he's already in counciling and that it would hurt his future to have a record.Really considering moving back to my home town to raise my kids the way I was raised. With common sense and not touchy feely nonsense. And traditionally celebrate all the holidays by their REAL names!Sorry for the long rants! I really am fed up with this city.

[tcam]

what's ur home town?

[Lancer]

Plymouth, WI

[GMJAP]

Did you disuss the expelling of the 1st grader when you were going after hump-boy?Holy crap! What a nightmare district. As one of my colleagues likes to say "Some people jus' need killin'."

[nismo]

Being one of the young ones on this board, I know where you're comin from Lancer. And I feel for ya. Because all the people that knew me through my childhood knew me as a kid that got into a lot of fights because of my ethnicity. So, I know how your nephew feels right now, but to the degree of where he's at. Things are changing in today's society, hence the reason that your little nephew got community service. Honestly, if this was 10 years ago, your nephew would have gotten detention. Even with all my fights that I got into when I was younger, I still only got detention. So I don't blame the districts anymore, I just blame what society has become now that people are more scared of what the consequences of everything will be.Inder

[GMJAP]

From this week's News of the Weird:Quote »The school system in Hagerstown, Md., issued a written reprimand in December to the parents of a 5-year-old kindergarten boy who had pinched a classmate's buttocks, terming his behavior "sexual" harassment. Said his dad: "He knows nothing about (removed). There's no way to explain (to him) what he's been written up for." Also in December, the principal of a preschool in Bellmead, Texas, issued an in-school suspension to a 4-year-old boy after he hugged his female teacher's aide with his face in her chest, which was termed "sexual contact and/or sexual harassment" (though following complaints, the offense was changed to "inappropriate physical behavior"). [WRC-TV (Washington, D.C.)-AP, 12-20-06] [KXXV-TV (Waco, Tex.), 12-7-06] http://www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/index.html

[GrayFox]

now that's just stupid what's next? A "you must be this tall" to hug your teacher sign?

[Lancer]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »now that's just stupid what's next? A "you must be this tall" to hug your teacher sign?Nope! Sexual Harassmant 101 for tot's. It will be schedualed in between circle reading and snack time.Quote, originally posted by GMJAP » As one of my colleagues likes to say "Some people jus' need killin'."That's the best quote of the year so far! (removed)!!