There is a sharp disconnect between two prank stories this morning. When Tyrell Morton put an inflatable girl in the girl’s bathroom at his high school, he ended up with a felony charge and a potential jail sentence of eight years. However, when three eighth-grade girls from Dunbar Middle school in Florida tackled an 11-year-old boy and stripped him naked (and proceeded to videotape him and taunt him), they were let go as a simple prank in bad taste.
In the video, the girls stop the boy to chat and then hold him down, strip him naked, and mock him. The video was put on YouTube.
The boy is a fifth grader at Ray Pottorf Elementary. One girl faced a single misdemeanor battery charges, but it was abandoned when the boy’s mother has refused to press charges. I commend her for her restraint, but I wonder what the charge would be if a group of boys attacked and stripped a girl in public, videotaped her, and mocked her.
I tend to disfavor criminal charges in such cases. However, it seems clear that the girls should be expelled and subject to the most severe forms of school punishment. What I find interesting, however, is the sharply different treatment given such acts by boys as opposed to girls. Indeed, I doubt seriously this would have even confined to a misdemeanor if the genders were reversed or that, with the existence of the videotape, the failure to press charges would be determinative. If the police witness or have evidence of a felony, they do not necessarily require the consent of the victim. Once again, I would not take this to the criminal system. Yet, I am surprised that the articles only refer to the possibility of parental punishment as opposed to immediate expulsion and other measures, such as denial of social clubs, graduation etc.
Jonathan Turley
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i think the law has to change towards both sexes. this has nothing to do with the girls. we shouldn’t be angry at them for this. yes boy’s would go straight to prison for this. but then that needs to change, until both sexes are older enough to be registered sex offenders, I would say maybe 18+ would be a good age for both parties.
until the they reach 18, it should be rehabilitation for kids, and given a second at life. make them better people, not chuck the key and leave them to rot.
our society needs to change that way we handle our kids? it seems like kids are being treated like adults now. i don’t think that’s fair.
but we do need to make kids more accountable for their actions in a civilized way for both male and female, with the same punishment.
Don Cordell has a good point. If you think this is something that should not be punishable by prison, then try to get the law changed. Maybe being registered for life as a sex offender should be for rapists and other serious offenders, but not streakers and other nonviolent offenses. If you agree, try to change the law.
But according to current law, this is a serious offense punishable by prison and sex offender registration. It is not right to keep this law and enforce it against males, but ignore it when females offend because the punishment may potentially be too harsh. Either enforce the law equally for all, or change the law.
IF 3 boys did this, they’d be arrested, as sexual perverts, then lifetime Sex Criminals, reported and banned from any contact with any children, banned from living within a mile of any school or park where children might be for LIFE. As an example, if a nude man walks down the street, he is attacked, chained, and then arrested as a Criminal.
If a woman if found walking nude down the street, she is gently detained, wrapped in blanket to protect her modesty, and taken to a psychiatric hospital for protection. This has been the the norm in America. Any assualt like these girls did, when done by boys “IS Sexual Assualt”, not a prank. When men try to defend themselves from an angry woman who is allowed to be a she devil, and if the man strikes back, who do you think goes to jail. Sorry this is life as we are living it. If men do anything as a prank, the court doesn’t see it as funny. Off to jail we go.
I do not believe the girls should registered as sex offenders, that’s ridiculous. they are not criminals. but I do feel some punishment should be done. community service and a fully apology to the victim.
this should be about rehabilitation not screwing up 3 3 year old girls lives, for a stupid or horrible act, for which they could not for see. they are clever girls, but stupid and cruel.
kids can be cruel, but they don’t know they are being cruel. I think an effective rehabilitation punishment will do everyone justice.
If you send them to prison, they only will end up criminals. they won’t get jobs, they will end up with have full of hate,bitterness, towards the boy and the family. and might seek revenge. and nothing will be achieved from it.
I have thought about this for a long time. because in the beginning I did want them in prison for it. But now I don’t. Kids can take things to far, some more than others.
I understand for the mother and the boy. I have being in that situation myself at school.
the mother is not a bad mother for pressing charges, If she did, she could only further the boy’s problems.
eddie, based on what the girls did to him, and the video, they would hve CP charges, and would also have to be registered as sex offenders. It would be unfortunate but that’s what they did. Unless the state cut a deal with them or something. I don’t know what kind of deal that would be though.
i seriously dislike the attorney for this now. i am going to vote for a new one, if they don’t do anything. we should all vote for a new attorney, and make it clear in florida, if no charges are press then we get them out.
I think charges should be pressed but i dont think they should get CP charges like mike s said. No sense in making them registered sex offenders but I do think they should get some severe punishment and have some kind of restitution for the boy.
The mother is a nitwit for not doing anything and the police should slap her in the face with a large hard object and then take it upon themselves to press charges.
it would be more easier if there are some other friends who are girls and that he sick them on these skuzzes and let them stomp them into the pavement put it on youtube as for payback teaching children this garbage called pc dont work it turn them into soft girlly boys
They broke the law, they should pay the full consequences.
barney, i could be wrong, i am just going on my experience, maybe 13 year olds are different today than in my day. i was not interested women until at least i was 15.
i am not saying i am right in way. i am open minded to any comment thrown my way. i am trying to different ideas on the subject.
if anyone is to blame for this incident? it should be the parents of these girls. do i feel these girls should go to prison? i dont know? should they be punished? yes. what punishment remains a good for this type of crime?
“Jack:How will getting the ‘law’ involved make anything better for any of the children ? Is punishment the goal? How will the violence of the state demonstrate to these children that violence is bad?”
How is obeying the laws and paying penalites for felonies, etc… considered “violence of the state”?
When a crime is committed, the law is supposed to get involved – whether or not the parents want them to, or the victim wants them to, or the attackers wants them to. They are SUPPOSED to get involved.
Robin: It’s pretty clear in the video what the girls are trying to do. And if you think they’re not interested in that, at age 13, you might want to do some research. Lately, girls can be worse than the boys in that aspect. If you saw a video of a boy that pulled down the shorts of a 10 year old girl, exposing her genitals, and then pull back her hand when she attempts to cover it, it’s pretty clear what’s going on, and it isn’t a prank.
Yes, the parents do need to be checked on as well – why would these nutjobs be doing something like this.
jack by the way i am not trying to speak for all women, i am man, same as i cannot speak for all men. i can only generalise, which most people do in this world. i am wrong to think that?
so your wrong to think i know everything about women. no one does, every women and man is different. but every article or book is based round generalising. what women go for? it’s a pile of rubbish.
i have to say grillo has got a good point.
jack, i don’t know what the girls were trying to do. i can’t see what her arm was doing to that boy?. the video is to blurred for me, to even consider what the truth of the story is? that’s why i have mixed emotions about the whole case.
if it was that bad you explain to me? why no one is pressing charges?
i very much dealt she was trying to expose his genitals? if she was then that was disgusting. some women obviously do things for sexual motives, but its very rare.
these girls are all 13 years old, they wouldn’t be interested in males genitals that much at that age. they were probably more aiming to humiliate the poor boy, than to see him naked. if they wanted to see a male nude, why didn’t they just go on a porn site, or youtube and have a look.
to be honest jack i don’t know what to think of this case, so many things don’t add to me. as you can tell from what i am writing.
jack, i don’t know what the girls were is trying to do. i can’t see what her arm was doing to that boy?. the video is to blurred for me, to even consider what the truth of the story is? that’s i have mixed emotions about the whole case.
if it was that bad you explain to me? why no one is pressing charges?
i very much dealt she was trying to expose his genitals? if she was then that was disgusting. some women obviously do things for sexual motives, but its very rare.
these girls are all 13 years old, they wouldn’t be interested in males genitals that much at that age. they were probably more aiming to humiliate the poor boy, than to see him naked. if they wanted to see a male nude, why didn’t they just go on a porn site, or youtube and have a look.
to be honest jack i don’t know what to think of this case, so many things don’t add to me. as you can tell from what i am writing.
Is everyone insane here?
The buck stops at the two places these girls learned their bad behavior, the two places where they are forced to spend nearly all of their time; with their parents, who, in the girls’ case, are obviously somehow abusive (after all, violence is a learned behavior, like speech, and where else do they get that mocking-self-esteem-crushing sort of talk) and have utterly failed to teach their children any sense of boudaries,…and the school, where bullying is a matter of course (study-hall anyone?)
How will getting the ‘law’ involved make anything better for any of the children ? Is punishment the goal? How will the violence of the state demonstrate to these children that violence is bad? Shall we look towards the violence of the family? Seems only peaceful parenting can solve these problems…
Robin, why such an all or nothing mentality? Prosecuting these girls doesn’t automatically mean prison. More than likely they have no prior records and they would be entered into some sort of diversion program where they serve community service and then the charges are dropped.
Nowhere in the law is the subjective motive of the attacker mentioned. That’s because it’s irrelevant. Whether they did it to get their jollies or “only” to humiliate him, it makes no difference. Btw, if you watch the video again, after the boy’s bathing suit is already down around his ankles, the girl holding him down by his neck tries to pull at his arm and hand covering his crotch. She succeeds in pulling it away for a split-second and you can hear her shriek as she lets go of his arm. What do you think she was trying to see? You’re the woman who presumes to speak for the intentions of all women, so why don’t you tell us?
well i have mixed emotions about the whole case. well i hope the state state attorney does do something. but i still don’t want them in prison for it. maybe community service. maybe send them to counselling. i have sent an email to the state attorney. they must be punished. i know that boys would be straight in jail for it.
there was a case of a boy pulling a girls pants down in class, he has gone straight to jail. but his was more of prank than the girls. he didn’t mean for the underwear to come down.
i wouldn’t take to much notice of my comments anyway, i just can’t sense of the whole thing.
i would just like to know more on the case?
If the police see or have evidence of a crime that was committed, they have an obligation to press charges and they wouldn’t need a testimony. The video was the evidence and that is all the Florida District Attorney would need. And like someone said earlier, they are represented by the people in Florida. If enough noise is made about this incident, something will be done. If everyone just says it’s a “prank”, then it’s swept under the rug. If a group of boys videotaped themselves stripping the clothes off of a 10 year old girl and put it on youtube, would that also be called a “prank” and nothing be done?????
They would be thrown in jail within an hour and you know it. So we need to keep checking with the Florida DA to see what is going to be done, and if nothing is done, we keep checking, or use other sources. They even run “bullying” advertisements on TV and cite where some children have even committed suicide because they were bullied at school. Bullying isn’t just something taken lightly either. I’m amazed at people who think this is just no big deal. I’m wondering if they would think the same if it happened to their kid.
Again, the mother doesn’t need to press charges. The police have an obligation to prosecute if they witness a crime or have evidence of a crime. They have evidence of at least a couple of felonies.
you can choose the state attorney, if the one currently won’t listen. but you really think the next one will listen. NO he/she will be the same.
do you really think police or attorneys can be bothered with a case like this. the answer is no.they just see as kids being very stupid. even the police called the incident a prank twice. because they didn’t press charges against the girls.
to be honest i think the same as them. if was a state attorney. i would not prosecute these girls. neither would my uncle, he is a criminal lawyer in san Francisco.
i personally think it was just stupid prank gone wrong among friends. kids at the age can be horribly to each other, friends or not. but why send them to prison for stupidity. i think these girls got a warning from the police, and probably did the job, on scaring them. if they are criminally minded so to speak. they will do it again…