Boy, 15, gets 60 years for StL County sex attack of girl, 6

judge sentenced to 60 years in prison this morning a teenager who had pleaded guilty of kidnapping, beating and sexually assaulting a neighbor in Spanish Lake on Nov. 11, 2005, when he was 13 and she was 6.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Melvyn W. Wiesman imposed the sentence on Sherman Burnett Jr., now 15 and the youngest inmate ever housed in the county jail.

In imposing the lengthy sentence -- Burnett will be ineligible for parole until at least the year 2056, when he is 64 -- Wiesman rejected confining Burnett in a juvenile offender program in Montgomery City, Mo., where Burnett could have gotten a chance at probation as early as age 17.

Source


Woah! This is freaking crazy.

I have a hard time saying that this kid deserved the punishment he received since he was 13 when he committed the crime. However, this kid is a sick little joker and thus, I must agree with the judge's decision.

According to the article, the girl had multiple internal injuries and part of her ear had been torn off.


Sick little freak, perhaps he deserves to rot in prison. That little part of me that doubts the judge's decisions can't help but wonder the horrors this boy will go through in the general prison population.



Jasn

Good

Sorry for the one liner.

MonKey

reply to post by ChiKeyMonKey


As I tried to explain the other day, sometimes a one word post the absolute BEST input one can give.

That simple word speaks volumes by itself. No need for a long winded approach just to say the exact same thing.


I'm with you 100% chikey!


Jasn

Originally posted by SimiusDei

I have a hard time saying that this kid deserved the punishment he received since he was 13 when he committed the crime. However, this kid is a sick little joker and thus, I must agree with the judge's decision.

Jasn

Well, the article claims that "teenagers minimize their crimes", but everyone probably does. It does not prove nor disprove the statement made by him that his victim was throwing or threw rocks at him beforehand. Of course this is unsubstantiated, because it is all hear-say, but I suppose if you were a 13 year old who knew no better then taking out your aggressions on anything you could control would be the thing to do.

Does a child deserve punishment like this just because they are ignorant? Whose fault is it that they have no sense at that age? They may know that what they did is deemed wrong, but someone that age does not understand why it is wrong.

You or I could be pelted by rock throwing 6 year olds all day and not beat the life out of them, because we know they are just kids, but children know not what they do.


[edit on 16-11-2007 by ben91069]

reply to post by ben91069


I beg to differ when it comes to situation like this. I certainly knew better than to do anything even CLOSE to this at 13 years old.

Naturally, a 13 year old practices shoddy restraint at best, but the severity of this crime makes me worry what he might be like at 20 or 25.

I think that it is best, in this particular case, to go ahead and handle the situation to prevent further incidents at his hand.


Jasn

reply to post by SimiusDei



Would you prescribe the same punishment if the perpetrator was 6 years old?

reply to post by ben91069


Honest answer? Hell no!

There is a huge difference between a 6 year old and a 13 year old. If a 6 year old did this, I would feel the parents were responsible more than anyone else (this is also likely true with the 13 year old). If a 6 year old has the free time to do this, the parents need to tighten up or go to prison one.


Jasn


EDIT TO ADD: I certainly see where you are coming from. That's why I have a hard time siding with the judge on this one. Though, all in all I feel it was the right decision.

Jasn

[edit on 16-11-2007 by SimiusDei]

I'm a mother of a five year old. I'd be ready for blood if this happened to my daughter.

However, this trend to try teenagers as adults and give them adult sentences is a bit much, IMO. teenagers don't think clearly, their frontal lobes aren't fully developed. It's why teens do such stupid things (aside from assaulting a neighbor).

it's a tough one; but I think 60 years is a tad extreme. That kid will be victimized for the rest of his childhood, and grow up in prison, someday perhaps getting out as a depraved, hardened criminal.

I don't know what to think about this. I'm glad the kid was caught and punished, but I'm not so sure the punishment fits the crime.

And I'm sick as a dog so I'm not thinking clearly. Maybe if I didn't have seven pounds of fluffy cotton between my ears this morning I'd see this differently.

I honestly cant believe anyone thinks that the judge is right in this case, 60 years for anyone is harsh, just look at that for a moment, 60 years, thats something along the lines of 21900 days, I dont know how old any of you are, but are you even 60 years old? have you lived as long as that kid will be in prison? dont get me wrong, he should be punished, he is old enough to know what is right and wrong, but then again, we have people in their 20's, 30's, 40's, that are commiting crimes similar to this one, I am sure I have heard more then once that they got off easy, I dont see them spending 60 years in prison, if I am completely wrong on that point, please direct me to at least 2 news articles that say differently.

he needs help, he does not need prison.

GOOD

I am sorry, but he deserves whatever happens to him. I really have no sympathy for the little twirp.



[edit on 16-11-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

SD - Not trying to hyjack your thread! Too much.

I had a thread along these lines a while back in AP Social Issues.

When Children Kill...

There are some realy good comments and reasonings between prison and teach'n'realease.

Please feel free to comment here and there!!

Monkey

You know, I'm sorry but stories like this just reminds me of how screwy and immoral this world has become. A thirteen year old boy is old enough to know and understand the consequences of his actions.

All this talk about not treating a teenager as an adult seems rather moot to me. While it may be true they don't have the life experience that an adult does, you're not going to convince me that they don't know the difference between right and wrong. That's just not going to fly with me.

I have a hard time feeling any sympathy whatsoever for this boy. The little girl is now eight years old and traumatized for life while he still, outside of being imprisoned, has a pretty unfractured mind. Although, it can be argued that his mind was fractured before he ever committed this act. There was something wrong with the little hedonous twirp.

I don't see how anyone could try to justify or defend this young man and keep a straight, level face.

kidnapping, beating and sexually assaulting a neighbor

Justice served.

For a 13yr old CHILD to commit this act, the probability of him doing it again - or worse - as he gets older is pretty high. The kid has issues clearly

However, with that said. I think he would be well served to receive some serious counseling and see if it is possible he could be rehabilitated - since he is so young.

Another thing to look at is this. Him going to an adult prison...he will not survive. He will not be rehabiliated in there, because he will soon become everyone's boy toy.

His life is over.

Originally posted by greeneyedleo


Another thing to look at is this. Him going to an adult prison...he will not survive. He will not be rehabiliated in there, because he will soon become everyone's boy toy.

Having actually worked in a penitentiary for two years as a prison guard, I can unequivocally tell you that that is not necessarily true...



[edit on 16-11-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

He deserves all 60 years and with everything that comes with them. That girl will have to live with that for the rest of her life. We need more judges like him.

GOOD

This little scumbag deserves what he got.

This is how you get someone that is going to be a carear criminal off the streets for good.

I can only hope that other judges do the same to these little criminals.

Not everyone can be rehabbed.

reply to post by SpeakerofTruth

Having actually worked in a penitentiary for two years as a prison guard, I can unequivocally tell you that that is not necessarily true...

Ok, I will give you that, as I have not worked in the prison system...just helped in putting people into the prison system....My comment was just based on what Ive heard from others....but I will take your word!

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
For a 13yr old CHILD to commit this act, the probability of him doing it again - or worse - as he gets older is pretty high. The kid has issues clearly

Totally agree with you there, so yes, the kid got what he deserved and this should be a lesson for other would be rapist/child molester, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE.

Best to remove the monster from society before he has a chance for a repeat performance.

reply to post by SpeakerofTruth


You are correct. I've worked for almost 18 years as a corrections officer and this kid will be protected. It's the way it should be. His punishment is to be locked up; period, not to be mistreated by anyone. I've no paitence with anything else.

Jeez I dunno... I have mixed feelings on this.

On one hand, one would assume someone who commits suck a horrid crime at an early age would be likely to continue the trend... but there's gotta be another way. Some sort of re-education? I mean he's not even fully developed yet, and could've suffered some kind of trauma which helped make him that way.