Civil Liberties

9-Year-Old Boy Who Stole Gum Was Arrested and Jailed—The Streets Are Safe Again

Boy couldn't get to court for his trial.

|

Idaho
KHQ

Citizens of Idaho, the danger has passed: Authorities bravely captured the 9-year-old miscreant who—gasp!—stole a pack of gum from a convenience store.

Thankfully, no one was harmed in the effort to apprehend the social menace.

The boy landed in trouble after twice failing to show up for his court date. At that point, prosecutors felt they had no choice but to issue a warrant for his arrest. According to KHQ, the boy was unable to go to court because his family had no way of transporting him there:

[Chief of Police Scott] Haug also says it isn't uncommon for the owner of a business to press charges against those who steal, even if it's for something as small as a pack of gum. When KHQ asked Haug why the 9 year old failed to appear, he says it was because the family had no way to get him to the courthouse.

"Had we known that before the court date we would have provided something for the family," says Haug. "I wish we would have had more information that way we could have provided some sort of assistance."

But that's not an issue anymore; the boy has been packed off to a juvenile detention center to await his next court date. Now he should have no trouble facing judgment for his terrible crimes.

Hat tip: Sarcasmic