Who thinks the California boy should be charged with starting a wildfire?

Question

I dont think he intended to burn down an area of forest 40 times larger than Manhattan so he shouldent be charged with all of those fines and removed from his home, but he should be punished in a slightly less severe way.

Answer 1

hmmm, i did not hear about this boy starting it, but i do believe he should be punished severely, he not only burned forest, but also many homes, and everyone is taught not to play with fire. he's responsible for every bit of it and many people lost homes. and even many more animals...


OK - EDIT - i did not know this boy was 10 years old, as i mentioned before, i did not hear about this story so i have no idea. when i first answered i figured it was some 18 or 19 year old kid thinking it would be funny to like set off some fireworks near a part of woods or something, you know, like a normal pyro would. well, i did not know this boy was just 10 years old. and i still don't know what he did or what he thought he was doing or anything. all i know is that a 10 year old boy evidentally started these wildfires that burned down forests and homes. if they are really going to the fullest extent of the law as an adult on him, jesus christ that's retarded. but if not, yea, the boy is going to be super-scared. where were his parents? was somebody watching him when he started it? was someone SUPPOSED to be watching him when he started it? because if someone neglected watching him, that's who should be punished. but certainly not unjustly...

Answer 2

This is a tough call. If the courts do not impose some sort of punishment then a bad president is being set. On the other hand what punishment can be imposed on a 10 year old child that fits the crime of accidentally starting a fire. As far as the fines a minor is not financially responsible for anything so no fines can be placed on him. The family can be sued by as the old saying goes "you cannot get blood out of a turnip" the family could not possibly pay all those fines unless they are multi billionaires.

I do not think there is a good way out for anyone in this terrible tragedy.

Answer 3

I think the boy should not be punish to that extreme!!! He is 10years old, think about when you where 10?? Did you know the things that you did would destroy life's forever, I doubt it!! I think that he might should do some community service like help the community get back on there feet. But he has enough punishment already he has to live the rest of his life knowing what he did!!! That is enough punishment for anyone. Plus think about the parents, they might have not been there but you really cant blame them you don't know the circumstances, they are probably good parents, it was just him playing around, or with friends. And if they are good parents which they probably are, this has to be devastating for them to know that there child is getting taken away from them!!! All around it is just a screwed up and a pain full situation.

Answer 4

This is ridiculous!! He is 10 for christs sake!! Every ten year old plays with fire its just what they do. Do you really think he intended to burn down a mass area of homes and lands?? When you are that young you dont think about what can happen because youre YOUNG!! It shouldnt fall upon his parents either though because yes they are liable but what if the kid was not with his parents at the time. No one knows the exact circumstances. I think at most he should get community service but nothing more. To become a ward of the state would ruin his life, thats b.s. to the fullest.

Answer 5

Some of you people are sick. Charge him to the full extent of the law, have you no mercy? I would agree that he should be charged to the full extent as a child not an adult if he did this on purpose, however I don't think he did. Imagine if you were in his shoes, how old you are now, and imagine if you caused this much damage on accident. How scared would you be? Now imagine if you were 10 years old. You people truly make me think that you just want to see the poor kid punished not because its just but because you want to see him suffer. Do you get some kind of sick thrill with this, thinking your right?
He should have to do community service like help with what he's done since that's only right, but to be charged for a crime like you meant to do it is just wrong escpecially for a small child who probably didn't even know what he was doing let alone know he was going to cause this much damage. Honestly people like you make me fear for the morality of the world.

Answer 6

He is 10 YEARS OLD. Everyone plays with fire at that age. He is also probably too young to be helping rebuild the houses. He should be punished but nothing big because he has probably learned his lesson. Anyone who trys to sue his family or take him away from his parents are completly heartless and stupid. If you sue him and his family or take him away, it will probably do more harm to him then help. And his parents cant watch over him 24/7.

Answer 7

If he really DID have anything to do with it, it is the parents who should be punished for neglect. They should've been watching the child so it is THEIR fault.

EDIT: I agree that the child should be punished in some way. Community service or maybe even juvenile hall or a combo may be affective.

Answer 8

I'm sure by the time all the home owners are done suing the sox off the family, he will be punished for the rest of his life. Not to mention the mental anguish he's going thru, knowing he caused such a horrible thing.

Answer 9

so, many of you are saying that a 10 yr old should be taken away from his parents and sued for millions of dollars...leaving him mentally scarred and likely in debt for the rest of his life. Seriously, is that going to stop this from happening? Probably not.

Answer 10

No, I'm sure he didn't mean to start the fire. He should have to do some kind of community service like help rebuild the homes he was responsible for burning down.