Jackson Jambalaya

How would you like it if every dumb thing YOU did was made public Kingfish?

Give them a break. They owe a bunch of money and have been fired from their jobs.

They have learned a lesson.

Ditto. They're just dumb kids who did a dumb thing. They don't deserve felony records.

However, they need to show a little remorse over their behavior. Not a time to cop an attitude.

So they shouldn't have been suspended?

Kingfish, if they robbed a liquor store and were released on bail should they be suspended from school?

20 years ago suspension wouldve been considered routine. People like you are why schools have deteriorated so much

Judging by the page on the left whoever gas been getting paid as his English teacher should be arrested for taking money under false pretenses ;-) Their school must be so proud of their "educational product" on display.

They spray painted the football field. It's like rolling someone's yard. Slap them on the wrists, make them clean the field or pay to have it cleaned, and move on. Hardly newsworthy.

That's "has" not "gas". Sorry.

You ducked the question Kingfish.

If they robbed a liquor store and were released on bail should they be suspended from school? Or how about if they got caught shoplifting? What if they were arrested for reckless driving?

You obviously believe they should be suspended. So step up and tell us where the line should be drawn.

Look at their profile pictures. You would think they would change it if they really were sorry for the "dumb thing" they did last week. They have on the same clothes!!! Let's see... they've had a WEEK to change their picture.... it appears that they're proud!

"Slap them on the wrist"???? Let some kid come paint your carpet or wood floor and let's see if you still say "slap them on the wrist"! Or, why don't you volunteer to raise funds to put expensive turf down on your favorite school's field and see if you'd feel the same! You're stupid if you think this compares to rolling a yard! And we wonder where some kids get their attitudes from....

If you commit a felony you should be suspended from school. Those two should be strung up.

They WERE suspended, for two weeks, lost their jobs, and have to pay about $10,000.

That's not enough for you? Felony, nah.

$10,000 reimbursement for damages? Doesn't that amount make it a felony?

I read that those two boasted about their crime saying they wanted to go down in history or something along those lines.

These morons obviously have no remorse and have not learned a lesson. Yes, they should receive a harsh punishment.

In coming years perhaps they will not be so proud of their history-making idiocy, or maybe they will just graduate to more destructive acts.
Jerks!

"If the damage is valued at more than $500 it is considered a felony offense and is punishable bu up to 5 years in prison and fines reaching $10,000."

I don't think people understand that the LAW is what makes this different than other pranks. If they painted one small thing, I'm sure the damages would not have exceeded what the LAW DEFINES AS A FELONY! What's so hard to understand about this?

I don't see the kids who painted the Petal turf being treated like this.

I don't see the kids who painted the Petal turf being treated like this.

I don't see the kids who painted the Petal turf being treated like this.

Some of these comments are a reflection on our sad society. If it had been my child that had vandalized property like that, not only would he take whatever punishment was decided by the school, the authorities and myself, he would have also been at that game and made a public apology. I can assure he wouldn't be on facebook bragging about it. To compare this stupidity to yard rolling is assinine.

What if these two teens had spray painted a grass field? Would some of you numbskulls still want to string them up?

Grass fields don't cost $700,000. That's the whole point. What if they vandalized a $700,000 house that you owned? Would you still want them to not be punished?

1:15 - That was impossible, since they were held overnight in jail and did not get out until Saturday.

They spray painted their initials on the field, so obviously they didn't care if they were caught or not.

Sorta silly to post this, and give them what they want, which is attention.

Better to delete it and not even mention it.

If you will look at the photos on facebook, you'll see that they have no respect for public property. It's not the first time they've done something like this.

The Facebook postings will make interesting reading in open court.

I enjoy this blog, but hasn't this horse been sufficiently beaten?

A ridiculous felony charge isn't enough?

*Very glad he grew up in saner times.*

They have already been all over the news. If they are stupid enough to leave their page up publicly, I say more power to you KF.

Don't care if they do or don't get made an example of, they did the crime, someone else is gonna figure out the time element.

And out of deference to the liquor store question, that is a stupid comparison. The reason being, the publicly posted keep them out of trouble page should be made even more public. I mean, you don't want them to have serious charges levied against them? Do you?

Oh no, let's coddle them until they commit what some readers consider a REAL felony.

These kids' parents are AWOL. Why does the kid even *have* a Facebook page?

I agree with Kaptain.... the liquor store question is stupid & doesn't compare. KF didn't post anything that any other facebook user can't find, so I don't see anything wrong with it. Their names have been made public and their profile pictures have them sporting their game day attire, so why does it matter? I'm not sure why adults can't understand the difference between a silly prank and a felony.

is Ethan Van Sice going to be charged

A felony is a felony. If a student is going to be suspended from school for the alleged commission of one felony, outside of school hours I might add, then they should be suspended for any/all alleged felonies committed away from school.

Grass fields don't cost $700,000.

No shit? Really? Are you dense or just a garden variety idiot?

Well then. High school students spray paint in school parking lots all the time. Those are my tax dollars that built and maintained those parking lots. They weren't involuntarily extracted from my pocket so that students could deface the asphalt with spray paint. Should those students also be charged with felonies? Because you can bet your bottom dollar that the "damages" exceed the threshold to qualify for a felony.

Of course, you idiots will duck and dodge and mince and evade.

Kingfish is STILL ducking the question of where the line is drawn. His blog, of course. Therefore he gets to decide where to puss out.

If so many of you don't like this felony charge, call your legislator and have them change the law. If the law allows for the charge and the crime fits, then so be it.

These guys apparently wanted attention. Let them be examples for all. I'll bet some other high school kids will think twice before doing something stupid like this.

5:00 ftw.

Parking lots don't *have* to be repainted every time they get sprayed.

The act was committed at another school concerning a school-related activity: a meeting between Pearl and Brandon in sports.

There is no right to an education per se. I have no problem suspending them for what they did. You can be penalized a variety of ways in life without going to jail for breaking the law based upon your conduct. This is no exception.

Now, I know what the trap here is. Innocent until proven guilty and all that jazz. So some kid is 17 or 16, commits a felony, any felony, and due to continuances and other legal manuevers, a couple of years pass before he finally gets convicted, after he is out of school.

If its a crime unrelated to a school activity, I have no problem yanking him out and putting him in reform school if its pretty obvious he is a threat to other students even without a conviction. If its a crime that is violent or sexual in nature, then they should be removed from a normal school environment even if they have not been to trial. If its something involving school property or a school activity, too damn bad, you are due for some disciplinary action from the school, including suspension. They earned this one.

Your kind has spent the last 30 years since the Goss decision ruining school discipline. Its about time we started putting people like you back in your place. Your attempt to use the absurd to prove a point is laughable. These kids damaged school property, they were doing it because of an upcoming school activity, and wanted everyone to know they did it.

They earned this one.

Parking lots don't *have* to be repainted every time they get sprayed.

That is the spirit. Parse the law to fit your agenda. The damn football field didn't need to be cleaned either. Pearl residents should have just lived with it like all communities live with graffiti.

What an intellectually dishonest readership you have here Kingfish.

some of you people are completely insane. these kids did something very wrong, stupid, etc. that said, they are KIDS. they need to learn that there are consequenses to wrong acts, but a FELONY? Hopefully even that politcally ambitious little sh*t Guest won't jump on your bandwagon. They need to be put in diversion and made to PAY and WORK off this stupid stunt, but to suggest that someone should live the rest of their life with harsh consequenses of an immature attitude is, well, stupid. How many of you idiots never did a stupid act as a teenager? lineup and confess in order....

kingfish, if you were a little taller, you wouldn't be such a judgmental little sh*t head.

Ok...I have to agree on the absurdness of it being a felony. Come on...people rape and kill people and get less time...These kids did a stupid thing. They went a step above toilet papering. It was all in the (sick) mind of team spirit and team rivalry. They need to get probation and community service at the MOST. They need to pay a shitload of money to rent the machines to clean up the field...and yes, there is a machine you rent OR you go and buy the acid that eats the paint off. They need to get out there and clean it up and not stop til it is all gone. It was a stupid high school prank. They vandalized property- they need to pay for it...but it shouldn't be classified as a felony. Give me a break. We should just be glad they weren't in their parents' basements making bombs.

I think sentencing them to a bunch of hours cleaning Pearl High School would be an excellent idea.

Your kind has spent the last 30 years since the Goss decision ruining school discipline.

That is where you are wrong. But in your High Mightiness you think you know best.

So, let's recap. For any felony committed by a school-age teen Kingfish believes that:

[1] For any felony unrelated to a school activity the teen "if its pretty obvious he is a threat to other students even without a conviction" should committed to a reform school. No mention, of course, by Kingfish where the offending teen should be parked while awaiting trial.

[2] In his own words any teen felony "that is violent or sexual in nature, then they should be removed from a normal school environment even if they have not been to trial".

and

[3] "If its something involving school property or a school activity, too damn bad, you are due for some disciplinary action from the school, including suspension."

Welcome to Kingfish's limb. Where an arrest is as good as a conviction if it is remotely related to artifical football turf or other offenses.

Kingfish needs some company. Feel free to crawl out there with him.

Anonymous 7:31,

I don't believe Kingfish said that if a student is accused of a crime, he should be suspended and/or placed in an alternative school. Of course, I could have misread is comments.

Secondly, yes, if a student is a threat to other students, then that student should be placed in a reform/alternative school. It makes no difference if the underlying felony/crime is school-related or not.

Third, yes, if a student does destroy school property, that student should be subject to disciplinary measures from the school. This should also include the possibility of suspension.

Fourth, this situaiton is not "run of the mill." People should be considered innocent until proven guilty. However, in this case, the young men have already confessed their actions.

Fifth, I'm well aware that Kingfish can fight his own battles. However, he's not being "high and mighty" as you say.

And lastly, I don't happen to even agree with Kingfish on this one. But, the law is the law.

Read his own words. The regurgitate.

5:00 PM and 7:31 PM and ad nauseum...

Your points are pointless. Look, two kids got caught damaging property. Yes, yes, we all agree a felony charge is over the top.

Your indignation for reporting public information is foolish. I don't have to tell other's here that. You make the decision every day to wake up and say, "I'm gonna' say something that is not really what I want to say."

Get on with it.

And on a lighter note...answer your own damn question, of yourself.

Now, I know what the trap here is. Innocent until proven guilty and all that jazz. So some kid is 17 or 16, commits a felony, any felony, and due to continuances and other legal manuevers, a couple of years pass before he finally gets convicted, after he is out of school.

KF, not sure how many realize that statement, you are preaching to choir. This is illegal under the US Constitution. Holding charges against a minor until they are adults is a blatant attempt to roundabout due process.

I hope a dog doesn't crap on that field. No telling what charges will be filed against the dog's owner.

Some of you may remember back in the 90s that cars and mailboxes were vandalized all one summer from County Line to Lakeland on a regular basis.

Those kids were caught. There was no publicity.

The accumulative damages well exceeded felony requirements.

Two were defiant, three were remorseful. No restitution was paid. Only a couple of the parents came down on them, but other responsible adults did.

Every single one of those young people graduated from college. Two have master's degrees and all are holding VERY responsible positions in their respective communities.

Indeed, many here would be stunned to know such stalwart members of the community were once so disrespectful of others property and the cost others paid for their " fun".

The point is that you do want to call these young men to account, but destroying their opportunities to make a life for themselves by giving them a felony conviction that would slam shut many windows of opportunity doesn't make sense.

I understand the parents trying to keep their sons futures from being destroyed,and I would feel better if they were assuring the community that they will make sure their sons are royally punished so as to have a " learning experience". A blanket defense of " boys will be boys" isn't selling.

These days are not like those days.
Young people of today sometimes take payback to a different level.

If someone is PO'd because of the actions of another they might try to punch them or damage their property-- which might lead to someone pulling a knife or a gun then or later. It can escalate.
We hear of these incidents too often in the news.

Impulse control has disappeared for many folks. Fear of the law usually is not a factor when someone is blinded by emotions controlled by the need for retribution.

Since we are discussing the football field painting incident, I feel those two should receive punishment they will long remember and others can witness.

As KF suggested, give them a few months of cleaning Pearl High School and when they are finished there let them clean their own school.
I doubt they would feel too cocky after that labor.

1) I have no sympathy for these two nasty, unrepentant morons. Prosecute them under the law (i.e., if it's a felony, so be it - let that be a warning to other nasty, unrepentant morons - maybe one or two will decide not to do something stupid that costs society a bunch of money to fix, but don't count on morons to learn from the mistakes of others)

2) A related story - according to well-placed sources (i.e., my kids) on Friday, before the SA-SJ game, four students from St Joe's rode through the St Andrew's parking lot at excessive speed yesterday (50 mph per kid 1; 90 mph per kid 2, who is prone to exagerration). They were throwing dead birds at SA students, and almost ran over two SA teachers. Both kids reported NINETEEN police cars descended on St Joe's (I didn't know Madison had nineteen police cars; maybe they called out the SWAT team too). Three of the four were football team starters and kicked off the team (duration unknown) and all four forced to apologize to SA's headmaster. SA trounced SJ 19 - 7.

11:25, Don't you think that comparing spray paint on a field to endangering people's lives with a vehicle is slightly stacking the deck?

A score of 19-7 is a trounce? You are outta your mind.

11:25, as to your second point, that's called an "oversaturation" of law enforcement.

As to your argument that these boys should have felony convictions under these facts, you don't appear to be much smarter than the defendants.

This case is tailor-made for PTI or nonadjudication, even if they did tear up the nicest piece of real estate in Trailerparksville.

Thank goodness those St. Joe students didn't throw those dead birds on the field at Pearl High. They may have been arrested for felony dead bird possession and felony dead bird distribution.

Because you know that they take their artificial turf and dead birds seriously in Pearl.

If an overflying gull or goose shits on the field at Pearl does an emergency cleaning team dispatch to clean the droppings before they dry and harden?

Bwhaahahahahahah Curt!!!

Hey, we just crossed into Pearl Honey, you feelin' a bit trashier?

5:35 you forgot felony Citizens Arrest for parking lot speeding.

Three of the four were football team starters and kicked off the team (duration unknown) and all four forced to apologize to SA's headmaster.

Is apologizing to an empty suit like George Penick really an apology at all?

Go to that personal facebook page. Look at some of the respectful, intelligent writing.

Surprised the St. Joe student offenders weren't made to kiss Stephanie Scott's ass.

Where did they get the dead birds? We may have felony bird-killing to tack on. Desecrating a dead animal?

Oh wait, dove season only started yesterday so we may have felony pre-season migratory bird killing. If we work hard we may be able to get them life in prison. For being kids.

Reckless driving in a school parking lot is light years more dangerous than painting on an artificial turf field.

According to the Kingfish Rules those St. Joe students are an obvious "threat to other students even without a conviction" and should be sent to reform school.

4:52 - Ethan Van Sice's My Space page is up and running - guess he couldn't just lie low, but had to get back out there with all his slacker friends. His profile notes that he's 21. Goes by the handle Reptar. Dork.

http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=21913&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297

Chew on that.

5:54, again. Apples, someone's home. Oranges, criminally expensive football field.

My guess is that if we built $700k science labs, this wouldn't be a problem. But that wouldn't fit America obsession with bread and circuses (sp?). Sigh.

errr..."America's obsession"

...probably wouldn't correct my grammar either...

6:34...chew a little more.

Judging from Mr. Cook's photos on his FB profile, I'd say the charges should be dropped. After all, drinking, smoking, stealing road signs, nah, he's a good kid. NOT! He's just a snot nosed little punk who thinks he can do whatever he wants and mommy and daddy will bail him out. If the charges are dropped, then it's just a matter of time before he commits another crime. It may be worse next time.