SC mother has son arrested... for opening Xmas gifts

[Chacor]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6213012.stm?lsm

A South Carolina mother has had her 12-year-old son arrested for opening his Christmas presents early.

The boy was taken into custody after his mother discovered he had entered his great-grandmother's house and taken presents from their hiding place.

The boy was handcuffed and taken to a local police station on petty larceny charges.

The boy's mother, Brandi Ervin, told the Associated Press news agency she had acted to teach her son a lesson.

"He's been going through life doing things... and getting away with it," she said.

He had repeatedly taken the present, a Nintendo video game console, from its hiding place in his great-grandmother's house.

----
Wow... what next? The sheer idiocy.

[TexasStooge]

He's that impatient to see what he got this Christmas?

[angelwing]

Geez, the kid already has ADD according to the article and his meds aren't working, plus he's getting expelled from school? I think the mom needs some help along with the son, such an idiot!

[gtalum]

Kid's 12 and mom is 27. There's the problem.

The police who arrested the boy should be disciplined for wasting resources.

[Yarrah]

Kid's 15 and mom is 27. There's the problem.

Yup, that explains a lot, although the article says the kid's 12.
So the police is taking this case seriously? Don't they have anything better to do? I'd send the kid to a specialist who can help him with his ADD and the mother to a good pedagogue who can teach her how to handle a kid with ADD.

[Lindaloo]

I sure am glad my parents did not have me arrested for sneaking presents.

[gtalum]

Kid's 15 and mom is 27. There's the problem.

Yup, that explains a lot, although the article says the kid's 12.

Doh! You're right, I meant to type "12" and typed"15" instead, thinking that's how old "mom of the year" was when she had her child.

[Yarrah]

Doh! You're right, I meant to type "12" and typed"15" instead, thinking that's how old "mom of the year" was when she had her child.

Ah well, doesn't really matter; both are way too young for a girl to give birth to child and raise it properly.

[sunny]

I sure am glad my parents did not have me arrested for sneaking presents.

lol - I'd have ended up in prison then because I was the WORST!

The mom was nice though, she went and picked him up after Church

[Brent]

How ridiculous.

[Derek Ortt]

lets see

he entered his great grandma's house without permission it seems, and he stole things that did not belong to him?

He is lucky he didn't end up with a felony charge of breaking and entering along with his larceny charge.

Good for the mom and police to have his carcass arrested and teach him that there are consequences for one's actions

[TexasStooge]

Doh! You're right, I meant to type "12" and typed"15" instead, thinking that's how old "mom of the year" was when she had her child.

Ah well, doesn't really matter; both are way too young for a girl to give birth to child and raise it properly.

Well said.

[Yarrah]

^^ You think it's appropiate to arrest a child with ADD by using handcuffs? Such actions can be very harmful for a 12 year-old and are certainly not the best way to teach them the consequences. It's better that a specialist helps the kid to handle his disorder (impulsiveness is a symptom of ADD) so he can try to live with it and refrains from doing these kind of things in the future.

His mom should be ashamed of this. It's her responsibility to raise the kid properly, help him with his disorder and punish him when he's doing inappropriate thing, not the law's responsibilty.

[Regit]

I feel sorry for everyone involved in this because it means the South Carolina Department of Social Services will become involved.

I've never seen an agency more efficient at dismantling the lives of people and making it nearly impossible to overcome obstacles.

[Scorpion]

I used to do all the time when I was around 10. Constantly going through my parents closets to see if there were any gifts.

[Regit]

Well I think it's clear that there's more to this story than is being told.

Just opening a gift isn't a big crime for a 12 year old.

Either the child is very out of control and this was the straw that broke the camel's back OR the mother is a nut.

[Lindaloo]

I agree Regit. This whole thing is nothing but a bunch of stupidity to all involved, except for the child.

Well said about the Dept. of Human Services. The ones they should go after, they turn a blind eye to. There is so many children suffering from poverty and most will not even have Christmas presents because of their parents being on drugs.

Kids, they are JUST kids.

[Derek Ortt]

I think it will depend if he entered his great-grandmother's house without permission. That would be tresspassing and breaking and entering (a violation and a felony here in the USA).

That may very well be the main question, did he enters someone's home without permission and the family has decided to go easy on him

[Lindaloo]

I think it will depend if he entered his great-grandmother's house without permission. That would be tresspassing and breaking and entering (a violation and a felony here in the USA).

That may very well be the main question, did he enters someone's home without permission and the family has decided to go easy on him

Come on Derek. I never figured you to be one that would fall into the PC category. Trespassing? At Grandmas house?

[Tstormwatcher]

Lets see, he is facing expulsion from school for attempting to assualt a Police Officer and he broke into his Grandmothers house to steal a video game. I think his mother did right by having him arrested. if his mother just laught it off like some of you are suggesting, then that would send a real good message to him. Look at what I got away with. By the way, breaking into anyones house is against the law no matter how they are related.