Boy Charged With Firing Gun Faces $250,000 BondA juvenile court judge in Boston has shocked prosecutors by setting bail at $250,000 for a 12-year-old boy charged with firing a handgun in the city.
The district attorney's office had asked for a bail of $5,000 when the boy was arraigned Tuesday on a juvenile weapons possession charge.
But Judge Paul D. Lewis said he'd lost patience with youth violence in his 23 years on the bench. Lewis told The Boston Globe that youngsters are out of control.
The boy's lawyer describes her client as developmentally disabled and said this is the first time he's ever been in trouble with the law.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino applauded the high bail, saying it sends a message that "we're not going to tolerate guns on the street."
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4890554/detail.html*FW Note:I guess I have to start by asking what "violence" was done? Who and or what was harmed by this apparently negligent discharge of a firearm?
Without those criteria, this is simply an overreaction to the event.
I wonder if Judge Lewis has ever heard of this one:
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
:x
