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2 teens get 24 hours community service in fire that destroyed old Cherry Grove Church (WA)
The Columbian ^ | 01/06/2022 | Becca Robbins

Posted on 01/06/2022 9:11:52 AM PST by aimhigh

Damage was $1M, says owner of Battle Ground site. Two teenagers were sentenced to 24 hours of community service Wednesday morning, six months after sparking a fire that burned down the old Cherry Grove Church and home of a Battle Ground man.

Marty Wirtanen, now 18, and Bryden Johnston, 17, each pleaded guilty in Clark County juvenile court to first-degree reckless burning. They were both originally charged with first-degree arson, which carried a sentencing range of 8½ to nearly 11 weeks in a juvenile facility, court records show.

(Excerpt) Read more at columbian.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: arson; church; communityservice
There were 83 church arson cases in 2021. This 'soft on crime' ruling will only encourage more.
1 posted on 01/06/2022 9:11:52 AM PST by aimhigh
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To: aimhigh

“…8½ to nearly 11 weeks in a juvenile facility”

“Nearly 11 weeks.” Horrors!

It should be “nearly 11 YEARS.” Or decades.


2 posted on 01/06/2022 9:18:32 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (81 million votes...and NOT ONE "Build Back Better" hat)
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To: aimhigh

How about 24 years in prison instead? Make license plates. That would be ‘community service’.


3 posted on 01/06/2022 9:18:40 AM PST by WKUHilltopper
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To: aimhigh

No Law No Country

The left has it talons honed for the kill.


4 posted on 01/06/2022 9:25:47 AM PST by Vaduz ( )
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To: aimhigh

While,grandmother’s and teens got solitary confinement for over a year, denied bail, and denied constitutional rights while awaiting their trials.


5 posted on 01/06/2022 9:27:51 AM PST by Bob434
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To: aimhigh
Late Wednesday afternoon, Slocum said he was hoping to see a harsher consequence for the crime that burned everything he owned. “The message is that you can cause over $1 million worth of damage — destroy our lives — and you’re going to have to spend 24 hours picking up trash,” he said in a phone interview.

Homeowner gets it.

Marty Wirtanen, now 18, and Bryden Johnston, 17, each pleaded guilty in Clark County juvenile court to first-degree reckless burning. They were both originally charged with first-degree arson, which carried a sentencing range of 8½ to nearly 11 weeks in a juvenile facility, court records show.

The plea agreements included a sentencing recommendation of 32 hours of community service, but Superior Court Judge Robert Lewis ordered 24 hours.

Judge doesn't. Lowered an already ridiculous 32 hours of community service to 24.

Deputy Prosecutor Kristen Arnaud said the plea agreement prioritizes restitution to the property owner, Steve Slocum, over incarceration for the teenagers. She said incarceration would not help them become productive members of society or ensure they pay back the man whose property was covered with beloved collectibles — including hundreds of mannequins.

And what are the odds any restitution is ever paid on this?

6 posted on 01/06/2022 9:28:14 AM PST by mykroar (There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare. - Sun Tzu)
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To: aimhigh

Meanwhile in Santa Cruz California where two young men did burnouts on the BLM letters painted on the street

Mixed results in arraignment of men accused of vandalizing Santa Cruz’s Black Lives Matter mural

The two men charged with vandalizing the Black Lives Matter mural in front of Santa Cruz City Hall last summer will return to court in a month’s time following a split arraignment and continuance Wednesday morning.

Defense attorney Micha Rinkus entered a plea of not guilty for her client, Brandon Bochat, who appeared via Zoom. Co-defendant Hagan Warner — who appeared in court with family and friends — asked for a continuance to replace his current counsel. Both face charges of felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement and reckless driving.


7 posted on 01/06/2022 9:28:20 AM PST by artichokegrower (I )
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To: aimhigh

Yep. 24 hours of picking up roadside trash for causing $1M in damage. Where is the incentive for some delinquent to behave? The punishment should fit the crime, I don’t care what color the perp is.


8 posted on 01/06/2022 9:29:27 AM PST by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
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To: WKUHilltopper

Boy! I’ll bet that taught them a lesson they will not forget.


9 posted on 01/06/2022 9:30:03 AM PST by Deo et patriae (Make America Great again! rantings.)
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To: mykroar

In a rational country the good townsfolk would have already burned the perpetrators homes to the ground.

With them in it.

L


10 posted on 01/06/2022 9:33:22 AM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: mykroar

Burn all their homes to the ground. Make sure you use only underaged people to do it. Teach them about an eye for an eye!


11 posted on 01/06/2022 9:35:07 AM PST by The MAGA-Deplorian ( 2022 - VOTE THE BUMS OUT —— ALL OF THEM! RE-ELECT NO ONE!)
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To: aimhigh

Okay...I guess I don’t completely understand. According to the article, the teens threw a mortar at the church which started the fire. The owner and his nephew were inside the church when this occurred but couldn’t put out the fire. I get the arson charge but wouldn’t this have been attempted murder as well? I guess the judge would have taken their X box away for a few hours if it had been... :(


12 posted on 01/06/2022 9:40:35 AM PST by momtothree
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To: aimhigh

That’ll learn ‘em.


13 posted on 01/06/2022 9:42:12 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Yes, but they didn’t even get that!


14 posted on 01/06/2022 10:12:32 AM PST by Joann37
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