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A Day In Juvenile Court
Chapter Eleven

    Mark woke before 6 a.m. and took a shower. He made up his room, then sat in the chair that looked out his window into the mountain range. The sun had started to rise and the fog had settled across the fields and orchards that surrounded the school. Mark�s heart felt heavy for he knew it would only be a few hours and he would be standing in juvenile court with his four sons. Though he wasn�t at all sure of the outcome, he knew when he returned, he would have one less son for sure. Mark heard a light tapping at his door that pulled him from his thoughts.

     �Come in,� he called.

     Patricia peeked her head in the door. �I see your up and ready to go.�

     Mark stood and headed for the door. �Oh Patricia, come in.�

     Patricia entered and took a seat in an adjacent chair. Mark returned to his.

     �I�m up, but I�m certainly not ready for this day.�

     �I just checked in on the girls. Jessica was just getting up, but Wendy is still sound asleep. Jessica said Wendy woke a couple times during the night.�

     �I�m really worried about her and the toll this is going to take.�

     �If you like, I could keep her out of school today and stay with her. Maybe take her and Alex in to Canyon City to Barns and Noble.�

     �I think it would be fine for her to miss a day of school.�

     Mark stood and reached into his back pocket. He opened his wallet and handed Patricia twenty dollars. �If she sees books she wants. Let her get them and I will pay you back.�

     Patricia took the money and placed it in her pocket. �Would you care to join me for my morning coffee Mr. Johnson?�

     Mark held out his arm and Patricia took hold of it. Together they walked through the cafeteria, fixed some coffee and went to the parents private lounge just off the kitchen.

     �Where do you think Dad is?� David asked Jessica as they sat down with their breakfast.

     �I haven�t seen him this morning,� she replied.

     �Well I haven�t seen my mother either,� Alex stated just before stuffing a spoon full of cereal into her mouth.

     �What are you eating?� David asked.

     �Cocoa puffs,� Alex replied. �And don�t you dare tell my mother!�

     �David laughed. It�s only 7:30 and you�re already disobeying your mother. Maybe we should take you with us.�

     Alex shook her head then stuff in another bite of the forbidden cereal. Everyone at the table laughed.

     Ricky took a seat at the table. �Where�s Wendy?�

     �She�s decided not to come down. She said something about last night and keeping it close to her.�

     �I really wanted to see her before I go.�

     �What�s stopping you?� David asked.

     �Are you saying go up there?� he whispered.

     David and Jessica looked around the room. It�s still early and there usually isn�t anyone around at this time.�

     Ricky looked around for Mr. Stein. He was talking to another parent as they disappeared into the kitchen.

     �He�s going to the parent lounge for breakfast.� Ricky stood up and left the cafeteria. His heart pounded for he knew if he were to get caught it would mean he would be removed from the school for good, but he had to see her. He listened, then took the stairs two at a time. He reached her door, opened it and slipped in.

     �Wendy sat up when she heard the door open. �Ricky! Oh my god, what are you doing?� Wendy jumped up and stood on her bed.

     �Were you going to let me go and not say goodbye?�

     �I don�t feel like being downstairs with everyone so happy.�

     �Wendy I love you and I�m sorry I hurt you.�

     �I know you are and I love you too, but you have to go now!�

     Ricky wrapped his arms around Wendy and gave her a quick hug, then turned to go. As he reached the door, he turned and looked at her. �I think you should help me get back down stairs.�

     Wendy opened the door and looked out. The hall stood empty, She grabbed Ricky�s hand and they headed down the hall toward the stairs together. When they got to the stairs Wendy looked over the edge and listened.

     �There�s no one coming, Go quickly.�

     Ricky let go of her hand and headed down the first two steps, he paused, then jumped back up to Wendy, He took hold of her chin and placed his lips to hers. When he pulled away, Wendy felt dizzy. She stood speechless as Ricky disappeared down the stairs.

     When Ricky�s feet touched safe ground, he heard someone call his name.

     �Oh god David you scared me.�

     �So what did she say?�

     Ricky smiled. �I got a kiss,� he whispered.

     �On the lips?�

     Ricky nodded.

     �I was watching for you so you wouldn�t get into trouble. We have to go sit on the bench outside Mr. Parkers office. He wants to talk to all of us.�

     Ricky and David walked down the hall and joined Nathan, Jacob and Matthew on the bench outside Mr. Parkers office.

     Wendy sat in the window and thought of what her life at the school would be like without Ricky and Nathan when she heard a knock at the door.

     �Come In.�

     Wendy watched as the door opened and Mark entered.

     �Hi Daddy.�

     �You�re still in your pajamas. Have you been crying again?� he asked.

     Wendy nodded. �I don�t feel like going to school today Daddy. Can I please just stay up here?�

     �You don�t have to go to school today but I�m afraid I can�t allow you to stay up here either.�

     Wendy looked at Mark. �But that don�t make any sense.�

     �Patricia is going to Canyon City to the book store and she is taking Alex with her. She asked me if you could go.�

     Wendy curled up and looked out the window. Mark reached over and lifted her chin. �It�s either that or you go to school, but you may not hide up here all day.�

     �I�ll go with Patricia and Alex,� she replied.

     �Get dressed then and Patricia will come get you in a while.�

     When Mark entered the lower hall, he could see his boys sitting on the bench along with Ricky. The bell rang and kids scurried every which way. Doors closed behind them and the hall stood empty once again. Mr. Parker entered the hall and stared at the boys. Mr. Stein stood there as well and Mark hurried to join them.

     �Ricky, you have a meeting with you probation officer at 8:30 and your hearing is at nine. The four of you will be after him one at a time when they call you in. I am not going, but Mr. Stein and Mr. Johnson will go with you. Ricky if you wish, either one of them can go in with you. Your other friends that participated in Halloween night all have court as well, just on different days. You five just happened to be first. I want you boys to remember one thing, There is a lesson in all this. Do any of you know what that lesson might be?� Mr. Parker asked.

     �Some things we do, we can�t fix and some things we do others can�t save us from,� Ricky replied.

     Mr. Parker looked at his son. �I think it�s probably time to head in don�t you think?�

     Mark and Kevin jumped into the front seat and the five boys crawled into the back two seats of the van. As they pulled away from the school, Ricky turned and looked out the back window.

     �I�m sorry Wendy,� he whispered.

     Ricky sat silent all the way down the country road and through town. The freeway seemed as if it were taking them miles from what they had known. They sat in silence all the way. When they pulled into the parking lot of the juvenile court division, it was just eight-thirty. Though the boys hadn�t actually spent time in this particular facility, the routine was the same. When Ricky entered the facility, his probation officer sat waiting for him. Ricky and Mr. Stein disappeared down the hall with his probation officer. Mark took a seat in the lobby with his four boys. A few minutes passed before Ricky returned with his probation officer and Kevin.

     �Mr. Johnson I know we met briefly at the school and since I�m familiar with this case, I told the court I would represent all of the boys from the school.� He took a seat and looked at the boys.

     �Boys, I�m Robert Dunn. I�m Ricky�s probation officer. David, Jacob, Matthew, and Nathan, It�s very important that you listen to what I�m going to tell you. A police report was taken as to what happened Halloween night. It has already been given to the judge and he has already looked it over. Ricky will go first, then David, then each of you will go. You won�t all go in together. Your dad can sit next to you at the table where you will sit. You are the respondent and that is the side you will sit on. The state is the petitioner, and they are on the other side. I will sit over there with the two from the state. I�m not on either side and I don�t represent you. I try stay neutral and state the facts. I tell the judge I�ve talked to you and explained things to you, then I recommend what your sentence should be. He will listen to all the evidence and take your age into consideration as well as my recommendations.�

     Jacob, Nathan and Matthew listened with all ears.

     �I want you all to keep in mind that the judges decision is final. Jacob, your Eleven?�

     �Yes sir.�

     �And Matthew your ten?�

     �Yes sir.�

     �Well I�ve never had anyone this young before so I really have no predictions as to what this particular judge will do. Keep in mind all of you, he could send you to detention. He doesn�t have to go with any of my recommendations.�

     �Richard Silverthorn?�

     Ricky jumped when he heard his name called. An officer stood at the doorway that led into juvenile court. He looked at Mark, then at Kevin

     �Will you please go in with me?�

     �You boys sit out here and stay seated,� Mark ordered.

     Mark, Kevin and Mr. Dunn walked with Ricky into the court room. Nathan, David, Jacob and Matthew watched as he disappeared behind the large metal door.

     Ricky stared at the two people seated at the table opposite of his. Mr. Dunn placed his hand on Ricky�s back and Ricky took a seat at the table. Mark and Kevin sat in the first of two rows just behind Ricky. Mr. Dunn looked through some papers, then took a seat next to the two state people. Ricky turned and looked at Mark and Kevin. He mouthed something to them then pointed to the chair next to him. Kevin took a seat next to Ricky. A couple minutes later the door to the side opened and the judge entered. Everyone stood up, then when the judge sat down, everyone else sat down. Ricky listened as the judge asked the state brief questions about their claim for probation violations. Ricky cringed when they started listing his offences. The judge kept looking over at him. The state went on and on about Halloween night and Ricky involvement in the theft of a truck from the school and the vandalism in town. The judge then let Mr. Dunn speak. He didn�t make excuses for Ricky nor did he make Ricky out to be disobedient. He simply stated the terms of Ricky probation and he agreed with the state that it had indeed been violated.

     Ricky�s stomach tightened when the judge stared at him.

     �You�re thirteen now Ricky?� the judge asked.

     �Yes sir.�

     �And what do you have to say for yourself?�

     Ricky looked down at the table, then back to the judge. I did something really dumb and now I wished I hadn�t. I wish I could change it but I can�t.�

     �That�s right young man. You can�t change it. I look at your record and it seems to me you do a lot of things you wish you could change, but then you haven�t done so have you?�

�No sir.�

     Ricky watched as the judge spent five minutes looking over the papers. When he looked back at Ricky, he knew he wasn�t going to be going home. He knew he probably wouldn�t, though he hoped he would.

     �I am taking this whole entire case into consideration. I know there were other factors involved and you didn�t work alone. I will take that into advisement. Ricky, you knew you were on probation and you knew such an activity could result in confinement, yet you participated anyway. You violated probation and you knew you were doing so. It states in your papers that a violation of your probation will result in a thirty day confinement period. Were you aware of this?�

     Ricky�s voice grew weak. �Yes sir.�

     �You knew the risks, yet you took the chances. �I have no choice. You will serve 30 days for the violation of your
probation. You will also serve 5 days for participating in the theft of the truck and you will serve another 5 for the vandalism.�

     Ricky grabbed his stomach but tried not to show how upset he was while the judge spoke.

     �I am changing the provisions of you probation and adding six months. I�m also giving you 100 hours of community service which you will serve in Jacksonville. Ricky I�m not trying to be mean. I�m trying to teach you that breaking the law as many times as you have will only make your life more difficult. I hope you do a lot of thinking while you�re here and I hope you truly make some changes.�

     Ricky sat there in silence. He was shocked. 40 days would be a long time locked up in such a small cell. Mr. Dunn brought him a paper to sign and then a detention officer escorted Ricky from the court room.

     When Ricky got on the other side of the door and away from the court, he started crying.

     The detention officer by the door, opened it and Mark stepped out. �David.�

     David hugged each of his brothers. �I�ll see you guys in a few days.�

     David turned and walked toward his dad. �What happened with Ricky?�

     �Not now!� Mark answered.

     David slipped through the door and took a seat in the chair Mr Dunn pointed to.

     David stood as the judge entered then took a seat when the others did. He sat through the states complaint, then he listened to Mr. Dunns recommendations for five days in detention, community service and six months probation.

     �Well David, This is a highly unusual case. Do you think five days in lock up is more than fair when I sentenced Ricky to 40 days?�

     David�s eyes widened. He knew he deserved detention, but that was more than he expected.

     �I. I don�t know what to say Your Honor.�

     �You were let off of probation just a year ago and here you are in trouble again.�

     The judge turned his attention back to the probation oficer. �Mr. Dunn. I am placing your client on six months probation.� The judge looked at some papers. �100 hours of community service to be served in Jacksonville. The Judge looked at David. �According to this police report you were the ring leader in this whole little charade. Is that correct?�

     �Yes Your Honor.�

     The judge turned back to Mr Dunn. �You client will serve a sentence of 20 days. Half of what the other young man received and I�m being lenient young man!� he stated when he looked again at David.

     The judge signed the papers and handed them to Mr. Dunn for David to sign.

     It was much worse than David had anticipated. 20 days and six months probation for smashing pumpkins. He hugged his father quickly, then walked with the detention officer into the juvenile facility just beyond the courtroom doors.

     �I�m going to take a ten minute break, then court will resume.� The judge left. Mark and Kevin stood together. �well that was a disaster. This Judge is tough.�

     Mr. Dunn joined them. �He is tough on repeat offenders. Even if they�ve been off probation for a while. I�m going to go check on David and Ricky. You two go talk to Nathan, Jacob and Matt. Tell them they should all expect detention time of at least ten days.�

     �You think he will do that to them?� Mark asked.

     �Well I was going to ask for community service and 2 days each, but if I ask for 5 we might get five. He could double it to 10 days though. Prepare your boys for the worst because the Judge is in a stern mood tonight.� Mr. Dunn turned and left.

     Mark and Kevin exited the court room. The three boys were seated quietly in the seats by the door.

     �What happened? Where�s is David and Ricky? Nathan asked.

     �Boys I think you should sit down. We only have five minutes before we have to go back to court. The Judge is being really tough. He isn�t happy about the whole pumpkins smashing episode or the taking of the school truck. He gave David and Ricky each six months probation and 100 hours of community service besides their detention time.�

     �How much time? Nathan asked.

     �Well Mr. Dunn was going to ask that you boys receive only community service and two days each, but he told me with the way the judge is sentencing, I should prepare you with the possibility you could each get as much as..� Mark paused.

     �Dad how much!� Nathan asked.

     �He said ten days.� Kevin replied.

     �Ten days! Matthew yelled. He threw himself into Marks arms and started crying.

     �Is that what David and Ricky got?� Nathan asked.

     �Boys the judge gave Ricky 40 days and David got 20 days.� Mark repeated.

     Nathan jumped up and stared out the window. �I can�t stay here for 40 days.�

     Just then Mr. Dunn walked out. He could tell by the boys expressions, they had been told. �They are ready for Nathan now,� he stated.

     �I�m not going in there!�

     Mr. Dunn motioned for the officer to give them a minute. �I know you�re worried but if the Judge comes in and you�re not in that court room, you�re going to be in a world of hurt. Lets go!�

     Nathan took hold of his dad�s hand. �Stay with me will you?�

     �Certainly son.�

     Kevin took a seat. �Mark I will sit out here with Matthew and Jacob.�

     Mark nodded as he and Nathan disappeared into the court room. Nathan had never been in court so the room looked strange to him. Mr. Dunn showed him where to sit and Mark sat next to him. When the balif said �all rise� Nathan stood, then when everyone else sat down, Nathan did too.
Nathan listened with intrigue as the lady from the other side quickly stated a repeat of what she had earlier. The Judge glanced at him from time to time and Nathan kept wiping away tears.

     �Are you 14 yet son?� the judge asked.

     �No sir. Not yet.�

     �Well I see this is your first time in trouble, or first time you�ve been caught. Why did you do it son?�

     �I was surprised when they asked me to go so I went. I don�t get asked to do much.�

     �You realize now that isn�t a good way to live your life don�t you?�

     �Yes sir. I know now.

     �It says here that you�re a straight A student. Is that true?�

     �Yes sir.�

     �So tell me Nathan, what did your dad have to say about all this. You being such a good kid and suddenly you come up with this kind of trouble.�

     Nathan mumbled quietly.

     �I didn�t hear what you said. Say it again.�

     �He whipped us with a belt sir.�

     �Us?�

     Nathan nodded. Me, David and my two little brothers Jacob and Matthew.�

     The Judge turned to Mr. Dunn. �and what are your recommendations for this young scholar Mr. Dunn.�

     �We are recommending 50 hours of community service, and we ask for 5 days of detention.�

     �Well Mr. Dunn I�m impressed with this young man and his sincerity to stay out of trouble. Thirteen and never been in trouble. I will grant you your five days confinement and 50 yours of community service. Nathan if I see you back in my court room again, you will spend a lot more time than 5 days, and you can bet you will have probation. Dismissed.

Nathan grabbed hold of his dad�s shirt. �Dad please, I don�t want to go! Nathan cried.

Mr. Dunn walked over and touched Nathan on the shoulder. �The Judge is still in the room, behave.�

�I don�t care. I won�t go!� he cried.

�Young man!�

     Nathan turned toward the Judge. I suggest you get yourself together and do as I told, or I wall add five days to your sentence.�

     Nathan looked at his dad and then Mr. Dunn. Though he didn�t want to go, he wiped his tears and walked toward the door.

     After Nathan had cleared the room, The Judge spoke. �It says here that the other two are just 10 and 11.�

     Actually Jacob will be 12 in a week.�

     Thank you Mr. Johnson but 12 isn�t an age you turn over night. He is still 11 to me and we don�t usually incarserate children that young, but follow my lead and I think I can curb their desire to break the law. Lets see both the boys together. A minute later, Mr. Stein escorted Jacob and Matthew into the court room. Both boys were crying.

     The Judge talked over them as he addressed the state. They admitted they felt the boys were to young but that they needed some sort of punishment for their actions.

     �I�m recommending 40 hours of community service Your Honor and..� Mr Dunn thought for a minute. I�m recommending 2 days confinement in detention.�

     The Judge looked at the two boys crying before him. �Mr. Dunn approach the bench please.� He then motioned for the state to do so also. They were very quiet, then all took their spots in the room. �Boys, Mr. Dunn is going to take you back and show you what happens to boys who get assigned detention. We will meet back here in one hour for sentencing.

     Mark and Kevin took a seat in the waiting room. Finally some 75 minutes later, they were called back into the court room. Jacob and Matthew had stopped crying.

     �Jacob, I think your old enough for a short stay in detention and I hope it might convince you to steer clear of the law, so I�m confining you to 48 hours in this facility and 50 hours of community service.�

     �No!!� Jacob cried.

     �Be quiet young man!� The Judge signed the paper and handed it to Mr. Dunn. He had Jacob sign the paper, then Mr. Dunn took him Jacob and handed him to an officer on the other side of the door.

�Just let him sit in a chair and I will be in soon.�

�Mr. Dunn, are you ready to continue?�

�Yes sir.� he replied.

     �As for you young man, Even though you might deserve it, It�s against the law to place you in the facility, however you need to be punished for your part in this.�

     Matthew watched as the Judge reached for something on his desk. Matthew�s eyes widened when he figured out what it was.

     �This child is your responsibility sir?� he asked of Mark.

     �Yes your Honor, he�s my son.�

     �The court doesn�t allow for a child of this young age to be incarcerated in this facility and corporal punishment isn�t something that this court administers, but in my court I have ordered parents to do so in the courts presence. Take this paddle sir and administer fifteen swats over your sons jeans.�

     Nathan turned and looked at his father, then back at the judge. �I�ll be good! I promise I will!. Don�t whack me please!� he cried.

     �Fifteen good solid swats Mr. Johnson, then I will sign and you can take your son home.�

     Mark reached for the paddle, then reached for his son.

     �Dad no pleaseeeee. I won�t ever be bad again.� Matthew started to cry. Mark turned Matt around to face him. �Son remember what Mr. Dunn said. The Judges word is the final word.�

     Matt started crying. He knew how much his dad�s whacks hurt. Mark took hold of Matt by the arm and turned him around so the Judge could see his face.

     �I�ll be good I promise.� Matt cried as he looked at the Judge. �Dad noooooooo.�

     Mark pulled Matt close, the bent over him. He wrapped his arm around Matt�s waist then flipped him over. Matt stopped talking and started crying again. He looked around the room. Five people were going to see him get his butt paddled. Matt started to struggle. Suddenly he felt the first swat.

     �Owwwwwww,� Don�t.� he cried, but Mark swatted his son again, then again.

     Matthew wailed and closed his eyes. He wished he were older because he surely thought detention would be better than being paddled. He was getting the worst of the punishment.

Mark gave Matt another good hard whack followed by another. Matt yelped and flailed his arms about. It was more than Mark could do to hold Matthew. He let go then grabbed him by the arm. �Your making this worse than it needs to be son.� He led him to a chair, took a seat and pulled Matthew across his knee.

�No Dad no!!!!�

Mark secured his son tight, then with great vigor, walloped his son behind ten more times with the Judges paddle. The Judge signed the paper and handed it to Mr. Dunn.

�Mr. Johnson you may take young Matthew home.

When they left the court room, there were a few people in the waiting room. A girl and a couple boys seated by the door looked bewildered but Matthew didn�t care that they saw him bawling or the fact that he was rubbing the seat of his pants. He just wanted to get out of there as fast as he could.