Ohio prosecutors mull charges in ice bucket prank

I almost posted this is the rant forum because I am just fuming right now at this.

This happened in a suburb not far from me. Maybe you heard the story when it made national news.

Five teenage boys "pranked" a 15 year old autistic boy by making him think he was participating in the ALS ice bucket challenge, then proceeded to dump a bucket of feces and urine on his head from a garage roof.

Now prosecutors are mulling IF charges should be filed?? WTF???
Last week a 14 yr old boy acted like a stupid 14 yr old boy with a Jesus statue...no harm done, but charges are sure being filed against him.
I think this "prank" was a heck of a lot more dangerous considering the bacteria alone from the contents poured over him.

Does the fact that it happened in Bay Village make a difference here? The city is very nice and one of the wealthier suburbs of Cleveland.
If it had happened in a poorer community, would these 5 boys already be in juvie?

Link

First of all, that was NOT a prank. A prank is something funny.

Second, I completely agree with you and I'm also fuming. What the hell!?

These prosecutors have been bought. That's the only explanation.

Screw the world.

Can't we just give them the freakydoodie bucket challenge?

YouTube it for all to witness, no?

a reply to: LukeDAP

From the link

...an attorney for one of the juveniles said the autistic teen and the other boys were friends who had been playing pranks on each other over the summer.

The attorney also says the boys didn't know their "friend" was autistic.

Sorry, but the fact that he is autistic just makes the incident worse. This behavior wouldn't be acceptable to do to anyone without their knowledge!

a reply to: halfpint0701

If you Do this in jail it's called assault.

Perhaps these boys need to visit to see how their "prank" will be seen from the inside.

Peace

a reply to: halfpint0701

As LukeDAP said.. not a prank, not funny!

If this was my child, The s**t would be hitting the fan.. they could shove their charges! Disgusted, Their parents must be so proud!

I can't believe there's any question about charges being filed.

If I were this kid's father ... the officials responsible for filing charges would rather NOT face my wrath if they just 'let this go'. You wouldn't want to leave it up to me to measure out justice.

a reply to: halfpint0701

I would bet that one of the parents are very influential within the community or county or buddies with the local prosecutor. I have seen this is the past work very well.

The law is not for the rich and powerful ..... only for us slaves.

S&F

If spitting on a person is considered assault, then this should be felonious assault.
Point blank PERIOD.
If this happened to a member of my family, autistic or not, there would be another assault charge in the county books real fast.

Why do so many people always think jail is the solution? You really think sending kids to juvie improves them? Unreal....

How about a long stint in community service in a place that helps people with mental disabilities instead? That might actually help them understand how what they did was wrong, and why it was wrong.

Throwing them in with a bunch of violent kids will not accomplish anything. Fining their parents will accomplish nothing.

originally posted by: TKDRL
Why do so many people always think jail is the solution? You really think sending kids to juvie improves them? Unreal....

How about a long stint in community service in a place that helps people with mental disabilities instead? That might actually help them understand how what they did was wrong, and why it was wrong.

Throwing them in with a bunch of violent kids will not accomplish anything. Fining their parents will accomplish nothing.

Why not do all 3? A couple of weeks in juvi to see where they could wind up if they don't change their ways. A suitably large fine to get the parents to do their damn jobs, and a good, long while in community service helping those less fortunate than themselves.

a reply to: tebyen
Probably because every kid I have seen go to juvie, comes out worse than they went in. Those who weren't violent before, came out violent for sure. Juvie should be reserved for serious violent crime IMO. As should prison.

From the story: "CLEVELAND (AP) — Prosecutors are reviewing evidence to determine if charges should be filed against five northeast Ohio teenagers accused of dumping urine and tobacco over the head of an autistic boy who thought he was participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser"

Urine and Tobacco is not the same as Urine and Feces. Fix your OP, it is false.

It also says they have been playing pranks on each other all summer. Usually when people engage in playing pranks and paying back it escalates to a point where it usually ends badly. I support possibly community service as someone already mentioned, jail is over the top. Or do you suggest jail just because the kid is Autistic? The other kids had no idea he was autistic so it couldn't have been very severe.

a reply to: TKDRL

I agree!

I went to an elementary school that had a special needs program, so we were all exposed to children of varying disabilities from a young age. I found that when I went out into the world, many people did no have this type of experience. Many people are afraid of these folks, and turn their fear into cruelty.

Some of these children with mental disabilities are some of the coolest people you'll ever meet. There's a guy with Downs Syndrome that rides the local bus around town. He's in his 30's, but talking to him makes me feel like a kid again. He gets excited over the most mundane things, and it reminds me that hey -- it's OK to get excited about the weather or a new pair of shoes too! Us adults can find joy in the small things in life!

We just "grow up" and get way to serious. I thank the universe people like him exist to remind me not to be so dour and serious all the time. If he can have a positive outlook on life in his situation, hell -- I need to get my head out of my butt!

a reply to: MystikMushroom
I have a cuz with downs, in no way do I think treating people with disabilities badly is OK for sure. My school also had a few kids that would join in the classes, I am not sure exactly what was wrong with them honestly, but they were in wheelchairs and could not speak or communicate in any way. Very sever disablility, they would join our classes because they thought the socialising would help their quality of life. I do remember a few kids mocking them and being cruel, but the rest of the kids nipped that in the bud.

a reply to: Baldryck
If it is true, that he was allowed to hang unsupervised by the parents, either he was not in the really severe spectrum of autism, or the parents were very irresponsible.

a reply to: TKDRL

That was pretty much the point I was trying to get across. I'm only going off the story the OP linked. So I really don't know the severity of Autism. If it is relatively mild and he was actually part of the earlier pranks, then the only reason Autism was even included in the story was to garner emotional support. I don't see a severely Autistic person playing pranks on others.

It all sounds like an end to a string of back and forth payback pranks that got out of hand.

a reply to: halfpint0701

$%@% Punks


That's all this story is really about and how those $#%%$ Punks might get away with it. I hope others who know these Punks make them feel like the scum they are. Get some positive peer pressure going but for the right reason. I know that if that was my son this had happened to somebody *Probably me if I got my hands around their scrawny necks* would be going to jail that's for damn sure.

%@#% Punks!

a reply to: SLAYER69
Assuming that last bit was just hyperbole? I can't see you thinking that it's cool for a grown man to go and beat up some kids lol.

a reply to: TKDRL

Honestly I don't how I'd react if my autistic son had Urine poured on him.

You're right, I should prolly coddle the kids who perpetrated this fine act of human kindness on him.