Flag-burning teen indicted for arson

Houston Chronicle ^ | Aug. 21, 2003

[Sandy]

A Harris County grand jury indicted a Cypress teenager Wednesday for arson in a March flag-burning incident.

Randall W. Heinrichs, 18, of the 14500 block of Enchanted Valley in Cypress, is accused in the March 22 burning of a U.S. flag that was displayed vertically on the building of Lumber Tag Specialties, said Kaylynn Williford, Harris County assistant district attorney.

The building, in the 13300 block of Skinner,, was damaged in the fire and the flag was consumed, Williford said. No one was hurt.

Heinrichs also is charged with criminal mischief in connection with a March 16 incident in which another American flag and a Texas flag were burned at Goodson Middle School on Huffmeister at Barker-Cypress, Williford said. A juvenile also has been charged in that incident, she added.

Heinrichs is free on bonds of $10,000 for the arson and $2,000 for the criminal mischief, Williford said.

Burning flags is an expression of protest protected under the First Amendment. "But you can't burn someone else's flag," Williford said. "And when it's attached to a building, that's arson. It's like setting a roof on fire or setting a curtain on fire that's attached to a building."

The U.S. flag burned March 22 had once draped the coffin of the business owner's brother, an Army veteran who died in May 1999. It was presented to his mother, who died in December.

Heinrichs is scheduled to appear in court today.

[steplock]

For the simple act of flag burning, the penalties are appropriate...

...but...

"The U.S. flag burned March 22 had once draped the coffin of the business owner's brother, an Army veteran who died in May 1999. It was presented to his mother, who died in December"

I would wait until he gets out and see how he feels about his shorts burning - with him still in them!

[weegee]

Thanks for posting this. I was about to (I was trying to recall some of the articles I had seen in today's Chronicle and it wasn't in the top level articles).

This is an update to a story that I had posted to FR months ago.

[Spacemonkey1023]

Hope they burn em. Flags just shouldn't be burnt, especially ours. Plus, it wasn't even his! Little bastard went and vandalized someone else's property! Burn!

[weegee]

At age EIGHTEEN, I'd say he's an ADULT, not a TEEN (like the headline). He may still be immature, but he's not a kid.

[Paleo Conservative]

Since arson is a violent crime I hope he is sent to a maximum security prison. I'm sure fresh meat like will get along really fine with some of the older and stronger prisoners.

[weegee]

It's a hate crime too (as per the previous reports). Hating America/conservatives isn't a category of hate crime though.

[SedVictaCatoni]

I remember reading somewhere that the North Carolina legislature was considering making "assaulting a person attempting to burn a United States flag" a misdemeanour, with a stiff $5 fine. :-)

[PhilDragoo]

The U.S. flag burned March 22 had once draped the coffin of the business owner's brother, an Army veteran who died in May 1999. It was presented to his mother, who died in December.

Creosote the perp's genitals. Case dismissed.

[SAMWolf]

There is no amount of compensation or jail time that can ever make up for what this cretin did. A Louisville Slugger attitude adjustment may help.

[Neil E. Wright]

I don't know TX law, but in AZ, Arson of an occupied structure is one of the 10 crimes where use of DEADLY FORCE (by anyone) is codified into the law. (ARS Section 13-411)

±

"The Era of Osama lasted about an hour, from the time the first plane hit the tower to the moment the General Militia of Flight 93 reported for duty."
Toward FREEDOM

[GeronL]

The kid is arrested again

for real

[weegee]

Repeat offender leftist arsonist.

Related threads:

Teens arrested for smashing 'decadent' SUVs (locked dupe)
Teens arrested for smashing 'decadent' SUVs ( The next generation of Libs )
Teens arrested for smashing 'decadent' SUVs

Backstory:

Cy-Fair teen is charged in flag burnings (burned someone else's flags)
Flag-burning teen indicted for arson

[weegee]

PING! He's at it again, burning other peoples' property. See the above links.

[Grampa Dave]

Just remove his genitals so he can't reproduce, and then send him in some hard prison time with his new sexual status.

[SAMWolf]

Sounds like a plan. I think I have a pair of dull, rusty hedge clippers in the shed.

[Boot Hill]

PhilDragoo:   "Creosote the perp's genitals."

Can we prep the area with a wire brush first?

--Boot Hill

[Grampa Dave]

Just leave the clippers out in the Oregon liquid sunshine for a few weeks. Then we can put them to use with the new rust and dullness.

[bicycle thug]

This sure is a touchy subject. I say that he who plays with fire invites getting burned themselves.

[bicycle thug]