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 These golf bags and electronic devices are some of the items recovered from a Saline County home by members of the Saline County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Todd Anderson said department members believe that the items were stolen during a burglary spree in which items were taken from homes and vehicles in Saline County, Pettis County and Lafayette County. Items include nine golf bags filled with clubs, five GPS units, one laptop, one radar detector, one Nintendo DS system, a portable DVD player, a travel case filled with 93 CDs and DVDs, a digital camera and a flat screen television. Those attempting to reclaim stolen property must present identification to sheriff's department personnel. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
Specific charges have not yet been brought, but according to an incident report from the Sheriff's Department, the list of property recovered includes a number of Garmin GPS units, portable DVD players, radar detectors, athletic equipment, computers, cameras, nine sets of golf clubs and other items.
The report says the two were taken into custody when the father of one of the boys told law enforcement officials he believed his son was in possession of stolen items with a value of between $5,000 and $6,000. When confronted by deputies, the boy named a friend who was also involved.
 (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
The two indicated they had also stolen items in Sedalia and Higginsville, and that it was hard for them to remember what was taken from where since they had been in so many vehicles, estimating, the report says, 30 to 40 vehicles in Marshall alone.
They also admitted removing some of the items from four or five unlocked garages.
Editor's note: Our policy is to withhold the names of people allegedly involved in crimes until formal charges have been filed.
Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net
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Army Giving More Waivers in Recruiting
Source: The New York Times
Author(s): Lizette Alvarez
Date: February 14, 2007
The number of waivers granted to Army recruits with criminal backgrounds has grown about 65 percent in the last three years, increasing to 8,129 in 2006 from 4,918 in 2003, Department of Defense records show.
Military Grants More Waivers to Recruits
Source: Associated Press
Date: February 14, 2007
The number of felony waivers granted by the Army grew from 411 in 2003 to 901 in 2006, according to the Pentagon, or about one in 10 of the moral waivers approved that year. Other misdemeanors, which could be petty theft, writing a bad check or some assaults, jumped from about 2,700 to more than 6,000 in 2006. The minor crimes represented more than three-quarters of the moral waivers granted by the Army in 2006, up from more than half in 2003.
Increased granting of 'moral waivers' dangerously lowers standards for military recruits.
Source: Houston Chronicle
Date: February 19, 2007
The study indicates that from 2003 through 2006, the military allowed 4,230 convicted felons to enlist under the "moral waivers" program. In the sharpest increase, 43,977 individuals convicted of serious misdemeanors were permitted to enlist. This category makes up the bulk of all the Army's moral waivers and includes aggravated assault, burglary and vehicular homicide.
During the past three years, more than 125,000 people with criminal histories have joined the military. While many of these crimes were minor transgressions, many others were serious. What is even more troubling, recruits who are granted moral waivers might not be tracked once in the military. Private Steven D. Green, charged with four other soldiers in the March 2006 murders of an Iraqi family of four, including the rape of a 14-year-old daughter, had a troubled history and several misdemeanor convictions when he was granted a moral waiver to enlist. A month after the murders, the 20-year-old Green was discharged on psychiatric grounds.
TC: Let's take another look at your numbers for felony waivers in the military, shall we?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/21/militar...
Thanks Kathy for the law posting on restitution...parents this is an excellent reason to not give your children a free leash because what they do may come back to haunt the ole purse strings.
SemperFiToHim: I would say that in most cases restitution is paid for by the parents especially if the child is jobless, maybe not all the time by most of the time. Also I hope you didn't misconstrue my post about probation...I tend to be a little sarcastic at times and was just trying to point out how probation seems to be the norm for sentencing a young offender. Heck at least give them a 120 day shock time in the prison system.
"What our military DOESN'T need is more young men of that type! They need QUALITY people, not problem children."
The military takes a lot worse than these boys..
http://www.palmcenter.org/press/dadt/rel...
The data indicate that from 2003 through 2006, the military allowed 4,230 convicted felons to enlist under the "moral waivers" program, which enables otherwise unqualified candidates to serve. In addition, 43,977 individuals convicted of serious misdemeanors such as assault were permitted to enlist under the moral waivers program during that period, as were 58,561 illegal drug abusers. In the Army, allowable offenses include making terrorist threats, murder, and kidnapping (pp. 35-36, Army Regulation 601-210)
"I think these two didn't know right from wrong and that's what got them in trouble."
REALLY?! I might buy that if they were 8...no no wait I know 8 years that know taking something that doesn't belong to them is wrong...heck I know kids that are 4 that know better.
I think these two didn't know right from wrong and that's what got them in trouble. What these two did was dumb, but no one got hurt and all the property was recovered. So I don't think their lives need to be ruined from this. I know one of the boys ("the golden child") very well and he is a good kid and he did have a very bright future. And I know he can still become a positive, productive member of society. That being said I believe strict punishment is the best teacher, so a year or so in prison is probably what he should get, but to be permanently labeled as a felon and all that comes with that would be counterproductive in my opinion.
I must say it took alot for the dad to turn them in but remember dad u done the right thing. And with a class C felony they need to serve tim and not be aloud to play any sports in school even though theyare seniors. I also feel that it was them that done the crime and they need more then probation and a fine. People say that their child is perfect well hello wake up noone is perfect and they might as well face the fact. I personally hope those two boys get the top punishment they can get for their crime. They admitted they done it and was caught red handed at it. Good job to the law enforcement involved on crackin this one and dad hang ur head up high for turning them in cause they knew exactly what they were doing.
Here's some information from Missouri revised statutes on restitution:
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C200-299...
1. I agree that dad deserves props because he did the right things and turned his own son in. That had to be hard for him, but he did it because he knew it was wrong.
2. These kids are old enough to know right from wrong. Do it once then it can be considered a mistake, but over 40 times you know what you are doing.
3. It's completely ridiculous to say that they should only get probation. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That's sooo ridiculous. They deserve punishment, and probation is not appropraite punishment whatsoever.
Can imagine how these people feel that have had all of these items stolen? It's not a good feeling to have something taken from you, and justice should be served.
Props to the police officers and law enforcement involved in this case. It'll be hard, but they don't deserve to get off with a slap on the hand. Do the crime, do the time.
DAgates---I work for the Division of Youth Services, and restitution is not paid for by the parents in all cases. I work with many kids who pay for their restitution themselves. It should be the child's responsibility to work off that debt. I hope these kids end up in a state facility like the one in Waverly because they need a wake-up call!!!! Oh, and what parent buys their child a car in order to commit crimes? I'm sure that's not the case here.
I thought in the State of Missouri the parents were liable for the actions of there children and could be sued until the child is eighteen years of age for their actions. I'm sorry but the parents are liable for these young men's actions, at least in a civil court, in a criminal court they might be on there own. Feel free to post the law that states I'm wrong.
I mean reallllllly, if you don't know that your child is out thiefing because they have a whole bunch of new gadgets that you know you haven't bought for them, then it's partially your fault.
I don't think these boys have much to worry about anyway as they will have to pay restitution (which actually will be paid by their parents) and will get probation which is the norm around here.
I do feel bad for the dad that had to make that call. That would be a hard thing to do but absolutely the right thing. When kids have gotten to that age and have the "golden child" image, it takes extraordinary measures to bring them back to reality. By "golden child", I mean "involved in all sports/FFA/A+ program and wants to join the military after school" kid that snows everyone with their accomplishments. Athletes, honor students, and those in activities still deserve to pay the price just as much as a disadvantaged, less social kid that has a poor home life.
What our military DOESN'T need is more young men of that type! They need QUALITY people, not problem children. My brother is a 20 year Army man who had spent 5 years as a drill instructor and many years commanding platoons and companies full of young men. Raise those boys and correct them NOW so he doesn't have to finish the job. And if a felony keeps them out of the military, good. It was a crime against other innocent people and they need to pay (not their parent's money)!
-- Posted by blue72 ....... one of the kids is a straight A student involved in all sports/FFA/A+ program and wants to join the military after school but this is in jeopardy because they might be charged with felony!!...
--- Are you serious? Since when does being active in sports, being a straight A student or anything else listed excuse someone from committing a crime? This is a ridiculous argument. Both these young men know right from wrong. Does it suck that they have to learn life's harsh lessons so young? Perhaps. But, it also sucks to work hard to afford the items that were stolen and to have a couple of punks feel it is okay to take what doesn't belong to them. They have admitted to being thieves. Caught red-handed...how would you suggest our courts punish them? We have a whole generation of kids that haven't been forced to face the consequences of their actions. Don't make an example out of these young men... Instead, follow the law, follow sentencing guidelines, and insure that the punishment fits the crime. Period.
I know both of these boys very personnal,and was
amazed that they both were doing this. It was very
poor judgement on their parts,and was extremely
hard on the parents to hit this breaking point. I am glad they will get them the help they need, before it gets out of hand. In no way have either of them been getting away with anything. Their parents are just trying to been trying to catch them at the right time. If we were in these situations than maybe we would understand. I am sure it is not over. It is my understanding there are more involved. I just hope their parents come forward and do the right thing.
Yes the father did the right thing...but i am a close friend to the parents involved and one of the kids is a straight A student involved in all sports/FFA/A+ program and wants to join the military after school but this is in jepordy because they might be charged with felony!! I do not believe this would be benificial to anyone for the courts to do this to a 17 year old....there has been less punishment to the same age getting caught with drugs...I do not condone what they have done but should this lack of judgement affect the rest of their young lives!!??
Have they said how long they have been doing this?
WTG Dad!! I agree with you muddywater, I wouldn't be able to walk still to this day either. Heck my dad would kick my butt if I even thought of doing something like that today...even at my age.
ok its not the parents fault. Teenagers will do what they want and these days its not hard. At leaast the father did the right thing. They know right from wrong and deserve whatever they get. They knew what was going to come of it eventually and kept doing it. Just because they had vehicles doesn't mean the parents got it for that reason. Blame the kids not parents!
Hopefully they will just get probation so that other people wanting to lead a life of crime won't be deterred by some harsh prison sentence. I mean I am sure they read about the past thief bandits and were deterred by the harsh probation sentence they received.
I see that the victims in these crimes took my advice from a previous post and left their cars, garages, property unlocked so that these young men didn't get hurt breaking into anything.
Way to go dad for making the hard decision...but where was the parental supervision when they were breaking into these 30-40 vehicles in Marshall alone and God only knows how many more in Sedalia and Higgensville. Hopefully the parents bought the boys a car so they could get around to their five-finger discount sales.
It's very obvious that the father of one of the young men didn't raise his child to act like he did. Tough love is sometimes the best love. So don't duck your head in shame and more power to you dad! I know what my dad would have done to me, I still wouldn't be able to walk.....
Best discipline technique in a long time. Parent awareness is a very honerable teacher. Way to go dad!!!
Good job dad to many adults turning their heads instead of stopping the problem
great parent.stepping forward and telling law enforcement.just think of the school shootings in past news and dumb parents just didnt know a think.
Yes the father did the right thing I know it was hard but it will be for the best.
Well done Dad!
I know that must have been hard for the father, but in the long run it will be one of the best decisions he will have made, maybe if the boy gets a taste of what a life of crime is like and the consequences to follow, he can still turn himself around and become a good man someday.
The man has character. Difficult thing to do, turn in your kid,but the right thing.
I know that must have been hard for the father, but in the long run it will be one of the best decisions he will have made, maybe if the boy gets a taste of what a life of crime is like and the consequences to follow, he can still turn himself around and become a good man someday.
Not sure of the fall-out, but I, for one, am glad the father stepped forward. Good luck to those wishing to recover missing items.