Waller County DA is charging the 16-year-old who drove into 6 cyclists with 6 counts

[LetMyPeopleVote]

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[brer cat]

1. I'm glad they continued to investigate and then charge him.

He was playing a dangerous game and lost control.

[NutmegYankee]

2. They should have charged him as an adult.

I believe adult crime should face adult time. Let the juvenile system handle stupid stuff like curfew violations or shoplifting. The bicyclists suffered injuries that include traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries and broken bones. They did nothing illegal, and yet will be sentenced to a lifetime of pain and suffering. A decade from now this kid could have a sealed record and pretend this never happened, meanwhile the victims will still suffer. That's not justice!

[MagickMuffin]

3. Exactly, CHARGE HIM AS AN ADULT

Can they change their minds and charge him as an adult?


If not I guess the Justice system decides when it will apply whether someone is charged as an adult or juvie.

[former9thward]

4. Scientists have found the area of the brain that controls judgment

does not fully develop until age 25. Does that mean juveniles can do whatever they want and suffer no consequences? No. But it does mean we draw lines based on age and behavior.

[Dan]

5. Well compromise, charge him as if he was a POC.

[TheBlackAdder]

21. It would be highly unlikely they would give that 16yo six 50-year sentences, running back to back.

[Journeyman]

11. If this magic area doesn't develop until 25, why do we arbitrarily choose 18 to prosecute it? . . .

Why are immature people who lack control of their judgments allowed to drink alcohol four years before they fully develop this magical level of existence?

At what age should a person without full faculties of judgment be permitted to enter into binding contracts?

If we're going to draw lines based on "age and behavior," why are those lines so inconsistent? And why, if the behavior in question is that of a person who has acted in anger, who has stolen from others their health, their security, their very lives, why do we grant them absolution from full accountability when by their behavior they've asserted their control over others?

[ExciteBike66]

12. But it does mean we draw lines based on age and behavior.

That is exactly why he should be charged as an adult.

Either he was an adult doing adult things (driving a vehicle on a public road), or the state of Texas has to admit that it allows children with unformed brains to put everyone else at risk by driving 2 ton hunks of metal at 50 mph.

[Withywindle]

16. And yet, 18 year olds are told to take on 100ks in student loans

And if they can't pay it back until their 50s because of interest rates, we blame them. This is seen as normal in our society. Even though they've harmed no one. So there's this weird limbo state where, even if you're a good kid who does as you're told and never hurt anyone, you are considered mature enough to take on a debt with usurious interest rates that will haunt you into middle age. No forgiveness for you, you should eat less avocado toast

But if you kill someone, you'll get some people kissing your ass and claiming you're basically a child, even if you're years older.

A person killed by a minor is no less dead than a person killed by an adult. The age of the killer doesn't matter to the victim.

[Jon King]

8. Nope, the brain is not developed.

Also the kid stopped and immediately was distraught and apologetic. Most adults would have driven away. It was a totally idiotic move by him but a total accident.

He should be charged as a kid.

[Whiskeytide]

14. It was NOT a total accident. He was ...

… intentionally harassing the cyclists. He may not have intended to hit them, but he was definitely trying to be a huge dick.

[hatrack]

20. I don't care if he pissed hot chocolate and wept lemonade . . . .

It was not an accident.

He used his modified truck to blast a bunch of cyclists with diesel exhaust.

His truck was modified for exactly that purpose.

He rolled coal on the first group of cyclists, because Huhhuhhuhhuh!!!

He sped up so he could roll coal on a second group of cyclists, because Huhhuhhuhhuh!!!

He then ran over a group of six cyclists, some of whom will deal with brain and spinal injuries for the rest of their lives, because Huhhuhhuhhuh!!! OOPS.

But Oh My God This Isn't Who I Am I'm So, So Sorry A Momentary Lapse Of Judgment Please Pity My Sincere Contrition Thank You Officer For Letting Me Go Home.

[modrepub]

13. Let The Victims Decide

You make good points but I hope the folks who this kid hurt have some say in how the prosecution goes.

[dalton99a]

15. Absolutely. There must be REAL consequences. Most likely this wasn't the first time

[CrackityJones75]

17. Why?

He isn’t an adult.

I think you have to be careful what you wish for.

[USALiberal]

25. I'm sure the Republicans think that too. Nt

[monkeyman1]

6. you have a D.L., you are a grown person ! that simple !

[Jon King]

7. Nonsense.

That literally makes zero sense. Just because someone is given a drivers license does not make them grown. Science says the brain is not developed at age 16, impulse control, decision making.

Bottom line is the kid stopped and a witness said he was very upset. So the kid has compassion. He made a huge epic mistake and will pay for it.

[monkeyman1]

9. everybody has a opinion ! I don't agree !

if that's the case , why is 18 yr. old's in a combat zone dodging damn bullet's ? answer that damn question ?

[pinkstarburst]

23. Yeah, I'll bet he was upset AFTER

he ran over the six cyclists. The problem is he thought it was effing hilarious when he was chasing them down in his two ton truck leading up to the horrific accident he caused by deliberately "rolling coal" in order to blind and choke them with black smoke and exhaust.

So while it's nice that he managed to squeeze out a whole bunch of crocodile tears for the cameras, it does not make up for his sadistic behavior beforehand. The cyclists may suffer medical consequences for the rest of their lives because he thought it was "funny" to do this.

[CrackityJones75]

19. That has nothing to do with whether someone is an adult.

So we are going to start calling 16yr olds adults? That raises all sorts of issues.

[kcr]

22. Okay ! Then why not let them vote ! and drink too ?!

Don't get me wrong. I think he should face consequences. That's what juvenile courts are for.

[USALiberal]

26. Lol, parody? Nt

[multigraincracker]

10. When you get your drivers license, it is a right of passage into adulthood.

He was the one acting carelessly and was blowing coal. Adult idiots blow coal too.

[Baitball Blogger]

18. Did his attempt to roll coal get out of hand, which is why he ran into them?

[ffr]

24. Not exactly swift.

I hope the civil damages bankrupt that little POS.