Howard Dean's Son Resolves VT Burglary Charge - Will Participate in Court Diversion Program

ABC News ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Dean's Son Resolves Vt. Burglary Charge Howard Dean's Son to Participate in Program to Resolve Burglary Charge

The Associated Press

BURLINGTON, Vt. Aug. 5 — The 17-year-old son of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean agreed Tuesday to participate in a court diversion program for allegedly being the getaway driver while four friends tried to steal beer from a country club.

Paul Dean appeared at Vermont District Court with his father and mother, Dr. Judith Dean, and met with a court official.

"I think this is a good outcome for Paul and for his friends, and that's what the program is designed for," Howard Dean said.

The program allows first-time and low-risk offenders to resolve their charges without appearing before a judge. In a few weeks, the younger Dean is to appear before a community board that will determine his punishment, which could include community service, writing a letter of apology or making restitution.

Dean was called to court to answer a charge of accessory to burglary.

Police allegedly spotted Dean seated at the wheel of a car near the Burlington Country Club in the early morning hours and June 20. After questioning him, they learned a burglary was in progress.

Police charge that his role was to be the driver while his four friends went to a storage area at the country club to get the liquor.

Dean's four friends were also called to court and will participate in the diversion program.

His attorney Mark Kaplan said the resolution of the Dean case is typical in cases where the defendant does not have a criminal record.

photo credit and caption: Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, right, walks with his son, Paul, left, to Vermont District Court in Burlington, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003. The 17-year-old son of Democratic presidential candidate Dean will head to a court diversion program for his role in the burglary of a local country club. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

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[sr4402]

Never heard about this in the national news. Are they carrying water for Dean as they did Clinton?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

It's not unusual for teenage boys to participate in stupid, even illegal, stunts like this. However, Dean's son must have known what an embarassment and problem this could have been for his father.

The fact that the son went ahead and did it anyhow suggests to me some real anger on the younger Dean's part toward his father - a desire, conscious or unconscious, to undermine his father and his campaign.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I did hear about it some weeks ago at the time of the arrest.

MSNBC was doing a scroll about it a few minutes ago, which prompted me to search the internet for an article to post.

[sfvgt]

.......what elitist's! They don't steal beer from a mini-mart like everyone else........they have to steal from a country club.......

[freekitty]

"It's not unusual for teenage boys to participate in stupid, even illegal, stunts like this. However, Dean's son must have known what an embarassment and problem this could have been for his father.

The fact that the son went ahead and did it anyhow suggests to me some real anger on the younger Dean's part toward his father - a desire, conscious or unconscious, to undermine his father and his campaign."

No way. The kid wanted a thrill with his friends and probably never stopped to think of the consequences.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Yeah, probably were stealing some French Pouilly Fume and brie cheese. Why couldn't they have stolen a case of Busch Light and some cheese nachos from the 7-11 like real red-blooded American kids?

[freekitty]

"It's not unusual for teenage boys to participate in stupid, even illegal, stunts like this. However, Dean's son must have known what an embarassment and problem this could have been for his father.

The fact that the son went ahead and did it anyhow suggests to me some real anger on the younger Dean's part toward his father - a desire, conscious or unconscious, to undermine his father and his campaign."

No way. The kid wanted a thrill with his friends and probably never stopped to think of the consequences.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Of course there's no way for us to get inside the kid's head, and no doubt that 17 yr. olds do a lot of dumb, thoughtless stuff. Still, hard for me to imagine that on some level he wasn't aware, but didn't care, about the potential harm to his father.

When I see the truly bizarre, angry sneer that Howard Dean almost constantly maintains, I have to assume that being his son is no treat.

[VeniVidiVici]

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Probably has a meth lab going somewhere too.

[Redleg Duke]

"Never heard about this in the national news. Are they carrying water for Dean as they did Clinton?"

Dean is a RAT. Dean hates the President.

Nuff said.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Politicians' kids........ gotta feel for them. Their parents are never "home" to give them undivided attention.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As mentioned, I did see some reporting on this at the time of the arrest.

But compare and contrast the kind of coverage that would ensue if one of W's daughters were arrested on similar charges. The problems one of the daughters had with underage drinking received major media attention. An arrest on burglary charges would no doubt attract round-the-clock OJ trial type coverage.

[Hank Rearden]

Well, that was quick. What a coinkydink.

[TexasRepublic]

The boy is just a chip off the old block.

[RJCogburn]

The fact that the son went ahead and did it anyhow suggests to me some real anger on the younger Dean's part toward his father

I disagree. It suggests to me a not atypical 16 year old.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

How about a better link to the story? I got a "page not found" error.

[Miss Marple]

I have to disagree. Having raised a teen-age son, I can see how he would pull a bone-headed stunt without thinking of the consequences (one of the trademarks of an adolescent mind) just like Jenna and the beer was nothing more than what college kids try all the time. It's just dumb teen-age stuff.

My only objection is the coverage that Jenna was given vs. the coverage this has received. I do not wish to give the Dean son more coverage, but the next time something happens to one of the Bush girls, or their cousins, I will be hitting the press over the head with their coverage of this story.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Here's a good link:

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20030805_1005.html

[mewzilla]

What a fortunate son.