A blog about News.
|
Depressing Christmas cards Leading Catholic: Disney has corrupted kids Kid comes before designer jeans Predicting the stock market Judge: Obese fliers should get two airline seats Palin's unfortunate interview backdrop! Record number of pot plants seized in state Safe haven or easy way out? Where's the good gas prices news? McDonald's shines in bad economy June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 June 06 May 06 April 06 March 06 February 06 January 06 December 05 November 05 October 05 September 05 August 05 July 05 June 05 May 05 April 05 Blog RollAsk The Californian Editorials Entertainment Eye of Bakersfield Faith Forum Fired Up! Inside Sports Neighbors Right Thinking Sound Off Talk of the Town 
RSS 2.0    Share!
|
|
|
Posting teen beating on MySpace.com, what a concept
Prosecutors have confirmed that the Bakersfield beating of a Centennial High School freshman girl was posted on MySpace.com.
Five teens, ages 15 and 16, have denied felony charges in Kern County Juvenile Court. But what a concept. First the incident has led to charges such as torture, assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness. Secondly, it was videotaped. Lastly, it was broadcast on MySpace.com. Isn't that special that a beating was videotaped and then posted on a public Internet site? The Californian is still pursuing details of this incident, but it sounds like the victim saw the suspects do something and they didn't want her testifying about it. Surely by the time kids have reached high school they were exposed to more common sense than that. What's your reaction to the story so far? Posted by Steve E. Swenson 86 comments from 32 users
posted by
mattloch
on Sep 13, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Thank god for the failings of the public education system. Helps ensure that we have the dumbest criminals in the world...
posted by
randomfactor
on Sep 13, 2006 at 11:10 AM
And the dumbest cops, too, Mattloch. Keep in mind the Three Laws of the Universe:You can't win. You can't even break even. You can never get out of the game. posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 11:26 AM
I was at the hospital on Thursday when this young girl was brought in. She was pretty beat up. The lady who brought her said she was unrecognizable. Not knowing her, I wouldn't know, but she looked bad. Later some girls were brought in by one of their moms. It turned into a circus. The girls refused to leave until they "saw for themselves" what she looked like. The whole incident made my stomach turn.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Public Education System? Dumb Cops? You don't think maybe the "parents" might have done a better job of raising these little heathens!!!! posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 11:41 AM
It does start from home. How many times do we hear about someone "taking care of business" or solving problems with beatings. I've suggested before that part of our education should be spent teaching conflict resolution, and hammering it into our childrens minds that this type of behavior is not acceptable in society. Unfortunately there is a sick part of society where it is acceptable. Now we have groups of girls acting like gang bangers. Oh how sick we've become. If they did indeed put a video on MySpace, those girls are in big big trouble. There is absolutely no defending their actions. I'm disgusted by the whole thing.
posted by
dusty1215
on Sep 13, 2006 at 11:46 AM
God, this made me sick to my stomach. And to VIDEOTAPE IT..were they proud of their accomplishment? What is wrong with society when children can do such things and be proud enough to tape it and put it on a public website?Plus, it is felony-dumb as my dad, a 30 year law enforcement officer would say..he always told me that kids never think past the moment..and instant gratification is what they want. The girl..I hope she is going to be ok..this is so sick. posted by
robinislost
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:08 PM
I am disgusted, too. This whole thing is disturbing. The stupidity of kids these days amazes me. I really do hope that girl is OK.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:10 PM
If that had involved any other school not in the Southwest or Northwest, there would be public hangings, but than these kids probabaly spoke English, so it is OK.
So I guess good kids or "good kids" are relative, geeez if they had spoken Spanish, god where were those English signs, let's sue! posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:11 PM
There were two boys involved as well. One called the hospital emergency room while the girl was waiting to be seen. He was flatly told his call was inappropriate and unappreciated. You would think there would be a point where they would say, "Oh crap, we've done something stupid. Let's not make it any worse". But this type of ignorance has no depth. They've done something that will certainly follow them until their the rest of their lives. I think the fact that their names have been released speaks volumes as to how this case will be handled.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Not to worry, this case will go nowhere, unless they have an Attorney named Rodriguez or some alien like that.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:19 PM
I agree it does start at home and heres why. When I turned 15 my dad told me that if I broke the law and got arrested he would not bail me out nor hire and attorney or sit thru my trial. He was serious as was the rest of my family (if I was innocent different story) I did get in trouble and he was true to his word. Never got in trouble again. posted by
nooneisabovethelaw
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:31 PM
The military needs more bodies to throw into Iraq. Rather than serve jail time, make 'em enlist.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 12:35 PM
Robin - do you remeber the girl a few years ago that go beaten at Liberty? She was a cheerleader that weighed maybe 85 lbs? Did anything ever happen to the girls that jumped her?
What is wrong with kids? Parents, too? I teach my kids to defend themselves if anyone hits them, but this is sickening. I hope this doesn't get played off as "freshman pranks". Trashcanning someone is one thing, but this happened off of school grounds in a private home. Where were the parents of the house it happened in? Are charges going to be filed on them? I totally agree, kids of this age are thinking only in the moment, and I hope that they get a big wake up call when the consequences hit them up side the head. Steph posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:03 PM
These weren't EB kids. I saw them. They were white middle "no class" kids! There is no race card to be played here.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:06 PM
dg, were the boys that called calling to see if she was OK, or were they calling to further taunt or emotionally beat up the girl. BPD might be interested in tracking that phonecall. I'm sure the kids were dumb enough to call from their home phone.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:08 PM
warrensteedjeffs, thank you sweetie, but a yawner at the schools you mention would not be, because at least at South they would just be sent to detention, this "school" is already locked up tighter than Lerdo.
But be serious, the anti-Hispanic anti unlike us rich folks would be demanding the needle if this kids were not from the "good"side of town. But how would you know "nices" are not your own kids. And it is not the newspaper who hate this part of town it god's chosen who live on this side of town that hate everyone else and believe themselves "superior". Whatever the bad publicity these heroes and hero worhipper, (themselves) who speak in the language of God, English deserve what they get, which in this case will little or nothing as is the history. As for playing the race card, deal after all you are the dealer, and I only play with the cards I am dealt. posted by
peepmaster89
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:15 PM
i KNow shaynas a real dumb bitch who does nothing but lie. I hope the police charge her with the fullest of the law.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:21 PM
Ahhhhhh, it warms the cockles of my heart to see the fine ladies and gentlemen that attend our public school system. That is why my kids go to private high school. If I ever start to doubt my decision, please refer me back to this blog.
posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:25 PM
The boy who called was one whose name is mentioned in the paper as one of the assailants. The victim also mentioned him by name several times. It was obvious by the tone of the person who took the call (Mother, Aunt, Friend) that it was unwelcome. I'd like everyone to know, I don't work at the hospital. I had taken my son, who was passing kidney stones into the hospital through emergency that day. This drama began unraveling a few hours after I got there and was still going on when I left. The young girl was sobbing so mournfully it couldn't go unnoticed. And after the group of girls arrived, one of which decided she would be seen as well, the conversation? got so noisy it was ridiculous.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Incidentally, warrensteedjeffs
I know that it will make your heart feel fonder to know that at least at South, communication from parents to teachers or administration by email is limited to outgoing mail by the KHSD mail filter , so that these low life parents don't bother them. But of course most of the Board members don't associate with these lowlife schools, that is a priviledge reserved for the Southwest and Northwest. Nah nothing will be done, it it not that serious, if they consider these offenses as yawners at BHS or South. Geez, these highbrows even get to communicate with their precious kids teachers, go figure. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:31 PM
I can't think of a worse place to spend a few hours than the emergency room.
posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:32 PM
You know Anon, I sent two of my children to private high school thinking that would encourage them to go to college. My youngest went to Centennial High School. He graduated from college in the top 2% of his class and is now working on his Master's Degree. He's never been in trouble. My biggest regret is I don't have all that money I spent on private school in my bank account! Don't judge. You never know.
posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:34 PM
Anon, you didn't see the girl! Shut it for once!
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:40 PM
I was referring to "peepmaster"'s comment. "peep" should not speak unless they can improve the silence. Same goes to Neo.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:41 PM
dgrealish, I appeciate your bragging and covering up for those poor, poor white kids. Oh, and why should I judge, they are your kids I couldn't care less how much they please you or don't please you.
However, I see that you are quick to ask those less wotrhy than you to shut up, why am I taking up your time and space? Too bad, sweetie. posted by
learnem
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:42 PM
dumb teenagers.....dumber parents. it has been almost a week since the incident, and NONE of the parents have made their kids publicly apologize to this poor girl.I don't understand why some posters are blaming the school system for this. It happened at a private home, and i am assuming no adult supervision?? Before you crack on the public education system, I suggest to go to your local school and observe a classroom before coming to a conclusion such as the above posters did. the problems I see in my classroom all stem from lackof /non-existance of parenting, which is obviously the case here. again my sympathy goes out to the girl and her family....no one deserves 2 against 1, much less 3 or 5 on one....and shame on those boys for helping beat up a girl posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:46 PM
I apologize, I thought you were referring to the beating. When my daughter was at Garces, a young man was beaten so badly by a football player he required several surgeries, including cosmetic. The assailant never missed a game. posted by
Hardliner4freedom
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:47 PM
Neo...
posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:48 PM
Can you read Neo? I've never covered up for those kids! Maybe you can read, you just don't comprehend!
posted by
pawz
on Sep 13, 2006 at 01:49 PM
Two statements stood up and took notice here. First, the idea that all students that attend EBHS are all hispanics and hoodalems is just ignorant. To even suggest that the "beaters" might or must have come from the East side tells me that the writer is totally ignorant as well because reality is, the worst crimes actually happen in the "upper class" "rich" neighborhoods. Have you all forgotten the 15 yr old boy recently who was on anti depressants and killed his mother and then himself? Hello, not an East sider. The "white" 15 yr old a few years ago on steriods also beat his own mother while she lay in her bed sleeping and killed her? These kids are the product of having too much or too many material things and money in which to obtain them. Parents don't or won't spend the time needed to instill the good qualities needed to be a part of this society. Sad thing. I have always told my children, one who is now grown and graduated from BHS, no he is not black or hispanic either and not that it would matter, and one child who is attending Compton, and yes one step son who is attending EBHS, if anyone starts something with them verbally, it takes a bigger and stronger person to ignore it and walk away than it does to turn and be nasty back. If someone hits them then they have my permission to defend themselves at all costs. They don't have to take bullying and they better not do any either. All my kids are well behaved and have really never had any trouble at all. Especially my East High School student. By the way, I'm an alumni and have no issues sending my kids there. posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:04 PM
First of all, there are too many anons, so I'll sign at the bottom.
Neo, leave dgrealish alone, she was obviously disgusted at the situation that she knew about before any of us. She sounds like a proud parent who raised her kids with some sense. Paws - I don't understand the hostility towards kids and parents who sacrifice to send their kids to private school. Not all parents who send their kids there are rich. We tried BHS - the only time the admin knew there was a problem was when they got a copy of a police report. My son was in a class that had the cops called to it 3 times before we pulled him out of it. I wanted to give them a springboard to the rest of their life, even if they don't go on to college. These 4 short years have a lot to do with how your adult life is started. I am not delusional and think nothing bad can happen there. Neither is the admin. That is why they have 12 random searches by drug dogs, the principal combs the kid's my space sites, and the kids can be drug tested. I like the small class size and the Christian atmosphere and philosophy. When our boys played BHS (and won, by the way) their stands were screaming obscenities across the field, and these were the parents and the head coaches wife! Trish posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:08 PM
I'm sure the boys that helped beat up the poor girl will have lots of fun in jail.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:13 PM
Actually dgrealish, I can't read oh but I do love tapes and videos.
Goodness, violence at Garces? what is this world comming to? You are wrong, si comprendo mi amor. Oh and hardliner is that a doughnut, or are you just dreaming of better things? It matters not whether it happened at school or at a private home the reaction would have been quite different had it happened on the "other"side of the City. Just as with the recent drowning at "their Park" it is not the incident that draws attention in this town, it who is involved and whether they speak the right language and are of the right ethnicity that makes the gravity of the story. As for the involment with the school system, I recently went to a Back to School night at one of the KHSD lower echelon schools,and though the classes average 35 students each class room only seemed to have about ten or less parents in attendance, but yet this school limits contact with individual teachers and or administrators except on their terms, hardly an outreach situation. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:23 PM
How do you think the reaction would be different? Personally I would react the same no matter where this horrible act occurred.Are the school random searches and drug testing getting them prepared for our future police state? posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:25 PM
And our back to school night was standing room only. A coincidence? You have to have parental involvement to have a successful student.
These kids AND their parents should be so ashamed. For one of the boys to call her at the hospital is beyond comprehension. Maybe he wanted to video tape her ER visit, too. Trish posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:27 PM
I believe everyone feels the same regarding this poor girl's beating. And right now the idea of hiring a teenage hit man sounds like a great idea. But I believe you can't blame an adult for something a 15 year old does. One day, these kids will be the adults who did something really, really stupid when they were 15 & 16. If handled correctly, these kids have a chance to grow into mature productive citizens. But given their start, the lack of values they seem to possess, their chances don't look too promising. Who is going to be the one to teach them better. It won't be the courts. It obviously isn't their parents. Something has gone seriously haywire in the raising of our children. My own grandson was jumped the first day of summer vacation by a group of hoodlums. He was held down by one boy and beaten by another. It was taped via camera phone and posted on MySpace. The police were notified, a report was taken and nothing was done. The parents had no idea where the boys were, and I know for a fact these 14 year old boys didn't go home that night. This is our problem folks. I was terribly shaken by this little girl when I saw her and heard her sobs in the emergency room. This was indeed the end of her innocence.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:30 PM
Pete, the reason I don't have a problem with the searches and testing is to impress on the kids that even though their brains are in the "live for the moment" mode, people are watching what they are doing. Once they graduate, hopefully they have progressed to the "my actions have consequences" mode. We have to do our best to protect the kids from themselves. I'm not saying we give them no privacy or that they cannot make good decisions on their own, but if I can cut down on the things that they are exposed to, I'm going to do it. posted by
DiTorres
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:37 PM
dgrealish, did they let the girls go in and see her? I wonder if they were the ones that beat her? I hope not because they would have probably felt proud of their accomplishment. I feel very bad for her.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:39 PM
My problem with it is that it assumes that all kids are going to be bad at some point (which isn't that far off). We never had to be subjected to searches and drug testing, and came out basicallly OK, even if we made mistakes. Now, kids are subject to them and look at how much worse it is. I guess I feel that kids are better off being supervised by their parents, and not left alone all afternoon (like I was) rather than making them feel like criminals. I understand your point Trish, but what happens when they leave the nest and haven't been exposed to anything? posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:46 PM
"And our back to school night was standing room only. A coincidence?" no, but than you are probably at one of the "elite" schools that encourage these things and who enjoys the full support and cooperation of KHSD.
Unfortunately some schools have not yet learned to whine loud enough to catch KHSD's ear, as that is the only thing that they respond to. But what the hell, it seems that the only time these "lesser" schools get KHSD correspondence is at Bond approval time, which incidentally just throws these older schools deeper into the hole of KHSD oblivion. posted by
dgrealish
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:47 PM
No, not while I was there. I left around 9:00 pm when they released my son. A woman I believed to be her mom was in with her. My feeling was while the adults were around, they were making nice. But when left alone, they were bolder. They wanted to see for themselves how bad she looked. I have no idea if they got their wish.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:51 PM
Pete - I agree totally. It's a fine line we must walk as parents. I was left alone a majority of the time, and I survived. But I didn't sit at home on the computer, drugs weren't readily available to me, or maybe I was too chicken. I'm not saying we should bubble wrap our kids and not let them have any adversity to work through, that would be disastrous. I just don't want them to be exposed day after day after day to gangs, violence, drugs, promiscuity, etc. My sister went to a private church high school and she was pregnant at 15. I am not a fool, but if it is in my power to try and improve my kids education and give them opportunities, I will do it.
Trish posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:57 PM
I was in the band, which kept me out of quite a bit of trouble, but it can be very hard for some kids to stay out of trouble, especially if they gravitate towards the wrong people. We just have to try our best to teach our kids how to make the right decisions by themselves.
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 02:58 PM
Neo, try and keep up. My kids go to BCHS - they are not a part of the KHSD.
Trish posted by
randomfactor
on Sep 13, 2006 at 03:54 PM
So's United Airlines, Mucus.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Sep 13, 2006 at 04:46 PM
Oh, I was soooooooo waiting for you to crow about that Mucus. Your heroes at Clear Channel are looking for liberal talk show hosts now though, so I guess we aren't going away anytime soon. AA opened the door for the liberal voice on the radio in this country, and I am very grateful. Not that I listen to the radio anyway. What is this the 50's?
posted by
anonymous
on Sep 13, 2006 at 06:06 PM
There are no bad kids only bad parents. Since these kids are all under the age of 18 and not considered adults their parents should go on record and pay a price for their off springs error. When it starts to cost them monies and their time they might just get it in their heads to start paying more attention to their kids. If your going to bring kids into this world you are going to have to be accountable for their actions like it or not. posted by
SCHLEP
on Sep 13, 2006 at 06:14 PM
Pete, i was in the band too. It kept me IN trouble. We raised more hell then the football team.
posted by
mattloch
on Sep 13, 2006 at 06:19 PM
Anon (Neo), Learnem, Mocus, you are all right. I was wrong to blame the schools for these kids being "dumb criminals". Once again, I must apologize and admit my mistake. You were right.It isn't the school's fault these kids were stupid criminals. It was the parent's fault. Training your kid to be a smart criminal begins at home. I will never forget my dad's advice to me, "if there's no body, there's no crime. No proof and you'll walk." They were bad for the beating, but they were stupid for posting it on the Internet for everybody to see. If your parents (or even your "family") don't take the time to explain these things to you, how are you supposed to find out? Teachers are worthless for that kind of advice. Worse than worthless, they'll rat you out to the cops. Becoming a smart criminal begins at home. posted by
hedfirst4
on Sep 13, 2006 at 06:46 PM
i have been reading your blogs for awhile now and i do not see what race, $, where you live, and what school you went to a million years ago is going to help this from happining again........ every body is arguing about personal things, like people drowning at " there parks" and stuff that really has nothing to do with this poor girl post up in a hospital, all beat he-double hocky sticks............... did not mean to rain on anybodies parade... peace and chicken grease BAKERSFIELD.COM HOT TOPICS: Loading Stories
Advertisement |
