http://news.kron4.com/news/teen-could-get-two-years-for-facebook-photos-with-jesus-statue/


So a 14 year old boy was arrested in Pennsylvania for mimicking oral sex with a Jesus statute. The appropriate response to this is of course, absolutely nothing, and to their credit the church that owns the statute didn't want any charges pressed, because it's a kid doing something stupid that he thinks is funny, but the DA for the town brought charges anyway and now the kid is facing two years in prison. To be clear, the statute itself was in no way damaged.

A statement that was later released by the DA was equally ridiculous, I think it's pretty obvious that the DA is letting his beliefs overcome his better judgment. Of all the things the DA could be doing, prosecuting this kid certainly should not be one of them.

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"I guess I should take solace in the fact that the liberals are mad at me again. As for this case, this troubled young man offended the sensibilities and morals of OUR community. His actions constitute a violation of the law, and he will be prosecuted accordingly. If that tends to upset the 'anti-Christian, ban-school-prayer, war-on-Christmas, oppose-display-of-Ten-Commandments' crowd, I make no apologies."

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It's crude and in poor taste, certainly, but a crime? I don't think so, not if the owner of the statue isn't seeking to press charges.

We are obsessed with arresting and pressing charges on people in America now.

This is a case where he should have to volunteer at the church or something to learn respect. No need to get a DA involved especially when the church isn't even pressing charges.

this officer is clearly an idiot. If there is no damage to the statue what law is being said to have been broken? all I can think of is trespassing. public indecency seems like a huge stretch.

and no he shouldn't be required to volunteer a second at the church unless that's his parents punishment.

This DA obviously didn't learn anything from the Duke lacrosse rape trial. He's willing to sacrifice this kid to score points with voters. If you want to make a name for yourself go catch some drug dealers.

Not everything that is stupid is criminal. If it were there would be no one left in Congress.

The correct response is to ignore the kid. He'll grow up one day.

Also saw it reported that he did go to the ministry center where this statute is located and apologized to them, he shouldn't be forced to do anything else.

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His actions constitute a violation of the law, and he will be prosecuted accordingly. If that tends to upset the 'anti-Christian, ban-school-prayer, war-on-Christmas, oppose-display-of-Ten-Commandments' crowd, I make no apologies."

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I'm glad most here think prison time would be a disproportionate punishment.

I have a problem with several parts of what this DA said. He presumes the false dichotomy that the "anti-Christian, ban-school-prayer, war-on-Christmas, oppose-display-of-Ten-Commandments crowd" would be upset about prosecution of unlawful action. He also is making an implicit distinction that absolutely violates his role... that the "us" crowd are christians or people who remain silent about governmental displays of christianity, and the "them" crowd is anyone who would oppose such displays.

Would he be throwing the book at a 14 year old kid who had taken a similar picture with a buddha statue? I highly doubt it.

I was reading somewhere that he would have been better off actually defacing or stealing it, because the penalties for those things are much less than what he's facing for standing near it in the wrong position.

this DA is an absolute media-*****-idiot

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We are obsessed with arresting and pressing charges on people in America now.

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Does that make him a statuary rapist?

Adrian Peterson needs to be sentenced to teaching 15 parenting classes. This kids parents need to be sentenced to mandatory attendance at one of them.

The kid then needs to disciplined by his parents.

The kid should be disciplined by his parents. Unfortunately, he probably hasn't been properly disciplined in the past.

I couldn't give a crap if a kid makes a hilarious picture about sucking off Jesus, Darwin, Buddha, Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. It's hilarious.

if a loving God exists he would have a sense of humor.if a petty God exists he can punish the kid. expecting respect for idols is silly.

I'm glad the church seems to have responded sensibly to this.

I think it's very important for us to send the message that our western religious sensibilities can handle this sort of thing.

Does anybody even know what the law is he's being charged under? What is the wording of the statute?

nm

A summary of the law is in the story

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Does anybody even know what the law is he's being charged under? What is the wording of the statute?

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It's an obscure law from 1972 that's hardly ever been enforced.

Well, the 1972 part isn't relevant. There are lots of old laws on the books that are just as pertinent today as they were when they were passed

And how is it obscure? I assume its in their penal code right next to all the other laws

As for enforcement, do we know that? I mean, has there been a rash of dildos strapped onto statues where the CAUGHT suspects have gone un-prosecuted?

So your beef is what, that he's innocent? Or that he may be guilty as charged but shouldn't be prosecuted anyway?

I think as long as there is no property damage AND no one was there to see this, this is not a particularly judicious use of resources.

Had children been around to witness a lewd act it might be a closer call.

Well, if he's actually guilty of the charge, then I guess it's for the voters of Everett, Pennsylvania to decide at the ballot box if the DA is exercising a wise use of resources

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Well, if he's actually guilty of the charge, then I guess it's for the voters of Everett, Pennsylvania to decide at the ballot box if the DA is exercising a wise use of resources

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I suppose. He could also just use his head.

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Well, if he's actually guilty of the charge, then I guess it's for the voters of Everett, Pennsylvania to decide at the ballot box if the DA is exercising a wise use of resources

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Sure, and who cares if a kid goes to jail for two years in the meantime for something this stupid?

There ain't no way that kid is going to jail especially now that the idiocy of this DA is out in the open. The church pressed no charges, end of story. It's his parents job to teach him respect at this point.

The only thing more infantile than this kid's attempt at humor is the DA prosecution of this case.

He ain't getting two years jail

Good grief

Probably a PTI and an expunction

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He ain't getting two years jail

Good grief

Probably a PTI and an expunction

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The fact that any of the above is even on the table for what he did is beyond ridiculous. If this had been Ronald McDonald or Buddha the prosecutor would be completely fine with it.

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The fact that any of the above is even on the table for what he did is beyond ridiculous. If this had been Ronald McDonald or Buddha the prosecutor would be completely fine with it.

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Likely true, but then again sometimes people surprise me.

Then again, if it had been a statue of Obama in a liberal district, kid would go to jail.

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The fact that any of the above is even on the table for what he did is beyond ridiculous

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You know what else is "on the table"? Next to nothing in terms of punishment.

Anyway, if you're really in a fizz about "what's on the table", then talk to the legislature. It's called a punishment RANGE. Harsh punishment at the upper end of the range is always "on the table", but rarely imposed. That's why it is called a range -- so that punishment, if any, can be imposed according to the circumstances -- severity, age of offender, damgage if any.

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If this had been Ronald McDonald or Buddha the prosecutor would be completely fine with it

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You don't know that. You're saying that only because you are atheist and biased.

But I'll play your game of speculation ... If it were Mohammed, or Madelyn Murray O'Hare, you'd want the kid to get life in prison

NonReg85 is a Papist.

Wake me up when atheists give a **** about actual justice like beheadings, rapes, slavery in the name of Islam. Atheism isn't actually lack of belief...it's just an anti-Christian religion.

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Wake me up when atheists give a **** about actual justice like beheadings, rapes, slavery in the name of Islam. Atheism isn't actually lack of belief...it's just an anti-Christian religion.

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Wake me up when you find an atheist who isn't outraged by these things. You trot this nonsense out all the time. The reason you see atheism in conflict with Christianity on this board and in America more often than Islam is because is because most religious people in this board and in America are Christian. It's not hard to understand. Stop trotting out trash like this.

Straining a gnat, swallowing a camel. Have a little perspective and address actual problems in the world.