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Student back in jail for Visine stunt
Published Friday, May 16, 2008
VIDALIA — The Clayton teen accused of poisoning his teacher is back in custody after a brief stint of semi-freedom.
The student, 16, was accused of spiking a Concordia Education Center teacher’s soda with approximately 75 percent of a bottle of Visine eye drops earlier this month.
The teacher was reportedly treated at Riverland Medical Center for severe intestinal symptoms. The teen was charged with simple battery — mingling substances Tuesday, and was released to the custody of his parents. The decision to release the student was made by a juvenile officer outside of the discretion of the Seventh Judicial District Court, Judge Leo Boothe said.
“A deputy released this juvenile without notifying the court, without any authority to do so,” Boothe said. “As soon as I found out about it, I immediately called and ordered him re-arrested.”
The release was done because there was no space available, Assistant District Attorney Ronnie McMillin said.
“Every place they had was full,” McMillin said. “If the judge had known that, he would have let a lesser (offender) out.”
The student appeared in closed juvenile court Thursday, and the teen was remanded to the custody of the state after Boothe set his bond at $75,000.
One of the ingredients in Visine, Tetrahydrozoline, is toxic and can cause nausea, vomiting, lowered blood pressure and diarrhea.
Comments
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right where he belongs!
Posted by rattlesnake (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good job Judge, now I hope it is followed up on and he is kept where he can not hurt anyone else.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Judge Boothe. Now follow it up with the most severe punishment allowed as an example for other kids to know they will not be allowed free passage after pulling a stunt like this. It's time this generation of kids to have to answer to the law for their actions. If the parents can't or won't train them in the right way maybe the courts can. Take the parents with the child, I would think. If parents would do their jobs there would be less of this criminal activity. It might be the 'village' could help raise a child, but it is not the 'village's' responsibility.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a sad day when teachers have to be afraid to turn their back.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
his parents need to be in jail with him..
Posted by Unitus (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It has reached national news. Check it out!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24664589
Sad to see that it takes this and the Jena incident to gain national attention.
Posted by Unitus (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just noticed at the bottom of this article is an add to Save 20-30% on Visine. The irony...
Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After reading MSNBC News I see it was not a joke, but very criminal. I know I wouldn't want my kids to be around someone this dangerous.
Posted by vidalia1 (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
destiny and shedevil both very well stated.The solution was right there release a lesser offender.whether it reached national news or just local it was always serious.
Posted by nannyb (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Judge Booth. Finally someone has realized the value of a teacher. There should be more severe punishment for a student that does bodily harm to a teacher or damage the teacher's personal property. I can speak from personal experience. I am a teacher and this school year has been the worst I have ever had. I had my personal property damaged twice and have had students that tried to do bodily harm to me. The students never received any punishment. It is like a slap on the wrist. The laws and handbooks should be written to state that if a student inflicts bodily harm upon a teacher or damage the teacher's personal property, that student will be arrested and their parents should be made to pay a stiff fine.
Posted by tolduso (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A friend of mine commented to me that he was relieved that the kid wasn't black.I quickly replied to him that regardless of race,we as parents are losing this generation of young americans.
Take prayer out of school and let evil rule,,,sad sad sad
Posted by iconoclast (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Democrat call this a "stunt." Poisoning a teacher is a simply a "stunt?"
Posted by freetospeak (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a person in education, I can tell you that it is just about as bad out there as it can get. All teachers including those that teach young children are regularly abused in some way. I have been beaten, slapped, kicked, cussed spit on and had chairs and other objects thrown at me. I have had children literally rip their clothes off their bodies because they did not get their way. All of this happened in my first grade classroom over the years and I had a strong disciplinary policy. .It’s bad,,, real bad!! I have left and taken a job at a Christian school. I make about half the money, but I have a peace of mind and I am happy to go to work every day. We begin everyday with prayer, morning devotion and a Bible story. The children do not behave the same as they did in public school and it has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the environment and the fact that school officials and parents will tolerate this type of behavior. These parents are not going to pay their hard earned money for their child to go to school and misbehave. It is a wonderful place for a child to be educated, have fun, and feel safe every day.
Posted by gcommon (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG I am reading your comments and I can not belive that you are convicting this kid before the test are done to see if he really did this. You need to ask yourself where is the proof that he did this. Did this teacher go to the hospital and get check to see if it was in her blood system, or did she just get the flu. If he really put Visine in her drink it would show up in her blood system or is she just a drama queen looking for attention. Before some one leaks out this story sounds like they would have waited for the facts and lab test to come back before throwing this kid to the wolfs. Also I raised 3 kids and it make me sick that there are people out there that are so easy to blame the parents for a poor choice that a kid makes. I say until you hear the facts about this the lab test, and other information. Don't be to quick to throw this kid in jail for life until you hear all the facts. It sounds like the deputy sheriff you have there is trying to make a name for himself and is ready to throw a young man to the wolfs before the facts are out. Just think if your kid that did this. You would want a chance for the facts to come out before people were ready to kill him or throw him in jail. For one moment put yourself in the parents shoes and stop and think how you would feel if you were them. Just think how heart breaking this must for them. If this is untrue I want to know what is going to happen to this teacher, will she go on teaching the kids or will they throw her in jail. What about this sheriff deputy that has leaked the story to the press before the facts are out. What kind of man is he? I sure would not want him in our town. There are lots of drugs and crime to keep him busy. Please don't judge this kid before you know the facts? Let them come out and then decide. If he really did this then he should face the music and take the punishment. I think people need to clam down and wait for the facts. Also there are alot of wonderful teachers out there and we need them. But there are some teachers that we have seen in the news that have made very poor choice's. After all this is America aren't we innocent until proven guilty? Appears to me that this child has been tried and convicted by the media.
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish i'd seen the add for Visine! :(
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gcommon....are you the parent??? You sound like it or either one who always defends their little monster for commiting such acts. You have the same long drawn out story each parent has when they try to defend the actions of their little brats. IT'S BRATS LIKE THIS that is agonizing to all teachers who are being abused .. This was attempted murder AND he knew what he was doing. It was not just a prank.
Posted by gcommon (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
destiny .... yes, I am A parent of three, but not HIS parent. I have worked for the local school district for many years and know what teachers go through ... but also, I'm a parent and I see what parents go through. There are kids who have no respect for anyone and make it hard for a teacher to do their job, but their parents don't usually back up the teacher, but would rather side with their misbehaving little "angel." THAT is what makes me angry about this story - people are convicting this child on heresay ONLY. Are there witnesses to this so-called attempt at MURDER??? Please, all I'm asking is that you all wait for the facts before you convict him. He deserves for the adults to act like adults and wait for the facts to come out. After all, this is 2008 - isn't this why we have a justice system and not a "hang-em' high" without due process? Have a nice day :)
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