10-Year-Old Given Lenient Sentence in Slaying of His 6-Year-old Brother

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal ^ | 12-10-02 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Older brother to serve at least two years in TYC for brother's death

DENTON (AP) — A 10-year-old Lewisville boy reportedly will spend at least two years in the Texas Youth Commission system for the April 15 slaying of his 6-year-old brother.

An unidentified source involved in the investigation of Jackson Carr's slaying said in Tuesday's editions of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Jackson's elder brother could remain in TYC detention until he is 21.

The Star-Telegram and The Dallas Morning News reported the sentencing came under a plea deal reached between prosecutors and the boy's court-appointed attorney, Dan Kossman.

The boys' 15-year-old sister previously had pleaded guilty to murder in the stabbing and suffocation death and was turned over to the TYC. Terms of her sentence were not made public, but the Dallas newspaper has reported the girl could face up to 25 years in state custody.

If convicted, both could have faced up to 40 years in custody.

Jackson Carr was reported missing April 15 after his older brother told their mother they had been playing hide-and-seek, police said. The sister, who led authorities to the body, admitted killing Jackson, police said. The brother told police that he held Jackson down until he was dead, authorities said.

[Theodore R.]

Texas has a reputation for being tough on crime. What do you think? Is it reality or image? Or when the crime is committed by someone so young, must the rules of punishment be drastically altered?

[Tired of Taxes]

Seems to be more "image" than reality.

What a horrendous crime! I wonder what happened to these children to make them so cold and calculating and cruel?

[I still care]

I have no idea what is going on in this family, but if the parents have any sense of normality they must be devastated. In this case I am for whatever brings them some relief while protecting the rest of us.

The article states they have a court appointed attorney - they obviously have no resources. They have lost 3 children in the most horrible crime.

[thepitts]

when the crime is committed by someone so young, must the rules of punishment be drastically altered?

Yes.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Children are the most cruel of people. They are selfish and lack the self control to moderate their behavior. When unsupervised, the Lord of the Flies will rule.

[Xenalyte]

The brother told police that he held Jackson down until he was dead, authorities said.

Maybe I'm missing something . . . my sister and I used to take turns sitting on my little brother for an hour or so, and he's now 25 and bigger than the both of us. Holding someone down doesn't result in death.

[crystalk]

Hebrew "Ba'al"= Lord, Master, owner of servants or slaves (obs.)

Hebrew "Zevuv"= Fly [insect]

Thus we have "ba'al-zevuv", and this became a term for Satan, and in the NT it is claimed that Jesus was accused of casting out Satan by Satan's own power, that of Ba'al-zebuv.

[Jeff Head]

32 executions this year is not "image".

This was a sickening crime where the sister killed the boy (as I understand it) while the brother held him down.

I personally believe the 15 year old girl should be executed. But that's my opinion as a native Texan.

The 10 year old should spend longer in custody IMHO. Until 21 in juvenile and then another 10-15 years after that.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Thnks for the language lesson, but I am aware of who the Lord of Flies is.

[gitmogrunt]

"I wonder what happened to these children to make them so cruel and calculating?"

I'm sure their texas trial lawyer could spend several days explaining all the reasons why.

[Tired of Taxes]

32 executions this year is not "image".

True, the executions are a reality. But, with "image", I'm thinking of this case as well as the Andrea Yates case, too, as she wasn't sentenced to death. In addition to Yates, there was another woman who murdered her children in TX; she served a short sentence and was released. (She was talking to Greta Von Susteren (sp?) shortly after the Yates case). I realize there are different factors that may have resulted in their lighter treatment, but it appears as if TX goes easier on women and children who commit crimes, but not on men.

[Theodore R.]

First-time offenders with "good behavior" also serve very short sentences in TX -- 1/4 of the sentence or 15 years maximum, whichever is LESS. So first-degree felons are often out of prison in 5 years. The Texans have jails too crowded to hold all the miscreants. Capital punishment has been in a lull in TX lately, Last year, I think OK actually led TX in executions.

[crystalk]

Of course YOU are, BT, but I should have remembered to change that addressee to "all."

It is amazing how few DO know these things.

[IWONDR]

I was not aware that the Lord of the Flies refers to Satan.

Thanks for that useful bit of info!