Monday, April 19, 2010

What makes a teenager choose a criminal life?

It's not a trick question. Why would an 18 year old choose this sort of life? I know nothing about his background, but I'd bet there is a juvenile record.
I know nothing about his parents or what kind of guidance he had. Sometimes this sort of thing happens in the very best of families, with parents who have been loving and nurturing.
What's the answer to it? Be tougher, be more lenient? I don't think this young man will see much leniency, he's in too deep. He was scheduled to be in court last Wednesday on charges from last month, but he didn't show up and a bench warrant was issued.
I understand teenagers making bad choices and doing stupid things, but to this extent? What is the answer for him, can the system do anything for him at this point?
I am afraid not. At some point you have to man up and take responsibility. I hope that this will open this young man's eyes and that he will do that.

From the Bossier Parish Sheriff:
A teen that was being investigated in connection with a car burglary ring has been arrested on multiple drug and weapons charges, said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen.
Trey Michael Sheppard, 18, of the 2200 block of Loreco Street, was arrested Friday afternoon because of his involvement with a car burglary ring. When stopped by detectives, Sheppard consented to the search of his vehicle. They found a small amount of loose marijuana and marijuana cigars. Sheppard then admitted that he had more in his bedroom at home.
Sheppard and his mother signed a consent to search form to allow detectives to search the home. Detectives located a jar containing several grams of marijuana in Sheppard’s bedroom. They then found a shoebox containing small blue baggies, used for packaging narcotics. Marijuana was found in the bottom of the shoebox along with tools used for cutting and dividing the drugs. A foil pipe was found in an ashtray next to his bed.
Detectives then found a Colt .32 caliber semiautomatic pistol and a box of .32 caliber cartridges inside a pillow in the closet. Sheppard admitted that the pistol was stolen, but he was unaware that it was in his room.
Sheppard was arrested and transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility. He is charged with possession of schedule I with intent to distribute, illegal carry of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is also facing two counts of illegal possession of stolen things from Bossier City Police Department. His bond is set at $66,000.

5 comments:

  1. Just another nol-pros here Jim. Happened to catch one of the assistants let one of his highschool buddies off on a felony possesion charge a few weeks ago. The guy has a rap sheet longer than Al Capone and the District Attorneys office is putting him back on the street to deal more drugs. Don't beleive me, check out Case Number: 178737 (Thomas Hathorn) A search on classmates.com show Hathorn and Montgomery as classmates at Airline highschool. What a joke!!!! Its a good thing channel 12 is getting ready to do a story on this type of prosecutorial practice. Maybe it will finally wake up some of the public who is unaware of this type of injustice.

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  2. Interesting, he also has a charge of DWI 3rd

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  3. Just a quick thought. My philosophy has been this as I have worked with our youth for the last 20 years. If we can get them, and us, to strive for following this one command.

    Mark 12:30 (KJV)
    30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

    When you are involved in such a relationship with God that you don't won't to mess up that relationship with Him, your focus is on what pleases Him and not on what fulfills our desires. Just imagine if this was the way we all lived. There would be no need for government or law enforcement. But it starts at home with the fathers.

    Also, a change of heart through salvation can change his desires. I have seen it in the lives of many kids.

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  4. Holy Cow!Who knows what they are thinking?

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  5. It's a sad tale, Jim. We have ALL grown up with kids like him.

    Maybe even some of us have "been" him at one time.

    I thank God daily that my parents held a tight rope on me. As "bad" as I thought I was at this fellow's age...I knew that what my Daddy would inflict would be much worse than anything the police could do to me.

    You ask, "why" a youngster would choose this sort of life. That, my friend, is the $64,000 question.

    Too many variables add up on the left side of the equation to really know what goes on the right side of the "equals" sign.

    But, both sides equal up to ZERO at this point for this young fellow.

    Darrell makes a great point. I've been around the horn, and back a bunch of times. A "Come to Jesus Moment" seems to be the best medicine for most of us. I'm hoping that this young fellow finds Jesus.

    He's pretty good at miracles.

    Just sayin'...

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