Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

Original post by Becky

Nov 12, 2003 08:00 AM

What do you all think of this?

I have been following the story and I strongly believe that the judge should have the kids tried as adults. What an awful message it would send to kids throughout the country to know that there would be minimal punishment for such terrible crimes. It makes me so sad to read the coverage of the story and then watch my DH's football team and try to imagine something like that happening.

I also think the coaches should have quit immediately. Nice message to send - I was in charge, but its not MY fault. It happened on their watch. There is no excuse for not noticing freshman players huddling together in a recreational room at night because they are too afraid to go to their beds

groovypeg Posted: Nov 12, 2003 07:48 PM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

what?! they are not being tried as adults??????? that is total bs!

swags1016 Posted: Nov 12, 2003 08:35 PM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

I am so disappointed that they are not being tried as adults. Did you see the families on the news- how distraught they are. The fact that these boys were RAPED and now these perpertators could be out by 25 with sealed records instead of having to be listed as sex offenders makes me absolutely sick. This hits very close to home for me and I am completely disgusted by it!

Wendy Posted: Nov 12, 2003 09:20 PM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

There is something truly wrong with a society that allows a heinous crime such as this to go virtually unpunished. No matter what sort of 'sentence' they give these creeps, it will never be enough!

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. These young men will have to live with this always and their lives have been horribly and forever changed simply because they wanted to play high school sports!

This hits way too close to home for me too, Jamie and I am completely disturbed and disgusted by this whole thing!

Becky Posted: Nov 13, 2003 07:33 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

What a coward that judge is There is still the possibility that the rapists will be sent to a juvenile facility, but they can't be sentenced to remain there past the age of 21. One of them is almost 18 now!

I am outraged. What kind of school is Mepham, that these rapists haven't been expelled, haven't even been suspended. It happened on a school trip. If I had a child attending that school, I would pull them out so fast! Can you imagine having your child attending school with three rapists who know that they can do whatever they want with minimal or no lasting consequences??? Scary.

I wish someone would leak the names of the criminals, so at least the surrounding communities will know who to watch out for.

eroxgirl Posted: Nov 13, 2003 07:40 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

This is terrible! What a great message we send our children: you can rape someone, and as long as you do it while you're under 18 and play football, you won't really have to suffer any permanent consequences. Just freakin lovely.

LizD Posted: Nov 13, 2003 07:55 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

It is unfortunate, but apparantly in PA they charge juveniles as adults only 1% of the time. Hopefully they will get some time in one of the detention centers (I heard they are pretty rough there) and not just probation. It is so sad for the victims, it is like they have to go through it all over again.

xjulietx Posted: Nov 13, 2003 09:24 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

I just saw the front of Newsday this morning and I so angry with this decision. It is dispicable.

I am angry for two reasons: 1) I can't believe that rapists are being tried at kids; 2) I strongly believe that they got away with this because it is an affluent area and school district.

I can tell you now that if this kind of BS happened in Brentwood (my hometown and high school) the kids would be tried as adults with no questions asked.

GRRRR

Wendy Posted: Nov 13, 2003 09:31 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

What I think is even worse is that the victims must now continue to go to school with all of the other kids who watched this happen and did NOTHING!!!!! Imagine how awful that will be for them. Every hall they walk down and every class they are in they will be stared at and laughed at. Teenagers can be so cruel to each other.

Last night on the news they interviewed the father of another football player (not one directly involved) and he was saying 'Oh I am so glad they are being tried as juveniles. Boys will be boys and they shouldn't have to suffer for one little mistake.' Are you kidding me????
Imagine if this was his kid it happened to. What a total moron! Of course he wouldn't allow his name to be used because he is such an idiot. If this is the kind of crap some parents are spewing, it's no wonder these kids feel they can do whatever they want!!!

This makes me so sick!

Misty Posted: Nov 13, 2003 09:37 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

I'm just speechless.

eroxgirl Posted: Nov 13, 2003 09:41 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

Last night on the news they interviewed the father of another football player (not one directly involved) and he was saying 'Oh I am so glad they are being tried as juveniles. Boys will be boys and they shouldn't have to suffer for one little mistake.'

This man should be killed for his stupidity. I'd like to shove a pine cone up his @ss and then ask him his opinion on the subject.

LizD Posted: Nov 13, 2003 09:59 AM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

Posted by xjulietx

I just saw the front of Newsday this morning and I so angry with this decision. It is dispicable.

I am angry for two reasons: 1) I can't believe that rapists are being tried at kids; 2) I strongly believe that they got away with this because it is an affluent area and school district.

I can tell you now that if this kind of BS happened in Brentwood (my hometown and high school) the kids would be tried as adults with no questions asked.

GRRRR

I grew up in Bellmore, actually graduated from Mepham (quite a few years ago)
Just to add, this did not happen in Bellmore, or in NY, it happened in Pennsylvania. The decision on how these rapists would be tried was solely decided by the judge in Pa.. NY, or Bellmore, or Mepham had nothing to do with this decision. As for Bellmore being 'affluent', I would disagree. It is just a middle class area. Affluent to me would be Roslyn Estates, Manorville, Plandome, etc.

yabbobay Posted: Nov 13, 2003 02:11 PM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

Posted by Wendy

What I think is even worse is that the victims must now continue to go to school with all of the other kids who watched this happen and did NOTHING!!!!! Imagine how awful that will be for them. Every hall they walk down and every class they are in they will be stared at and laughed at. Teenagers can be so cruel to each other.

are there 2 schools in Bellmore? I would hope they would be allowed to transfer...but still I'm sure everyone knows who did it!!!

IF its any justice...this was a tradition right? so the guys that did it...had it done to them...so at least this tradition stops...

LizD Posted: Nov 13, 2003 02:16 PM

Re: Today is the hearing in PA on whether to charge the Mepham players as adults

There are actually 3 high schools in Bellmore. One of the victims already transfered to another school. I have not heard anything about the others leaving there.

I am sure under the circumstances they would be allowed to transfer to another school.