Posted on 05/28/2012 6:05:44 PM PDT by AndyJackson
A 17-year-old high school student working two jobs to support her siblings, while juggling college-level classes, spent 24 hours in jail this week for missing too much school, KHOU 11 News reported.
Diane Tran, an 11th-grader at Willis High School in Willis, Texas said she was often too exhausted to get to school in time.
Judge Lanny Moriarty said he warned the student last month not to miss any more classes or she would be violating truancy law, KHOU 11 News reported. When she missed school again, he had her thrown in jail.
"If you let one run loose, what are you gonna do with the rest of 'em? Let them go too?" Judge Moriarty asked the TV station.
Tran said her parents divorced unexpectedly and left town, leaving it up to her to support her younger sister, who lives with relatives, and her brother's university education, KHOU 11 News reported.
Tran works full-time at a dry cleaner and weekends at Waverly Manor wedding venue, where she lives with the family that owns the business.
At school she takes several advanced placement and college-level courses, often staying up all night, a classmate, coworker and friend of Tran's told the TV station.
Judge Moriarty admitted he was using Tran as an example. Willis High School has a warning about truancy violation on its website .
According to Texas truancy law students can have no more than 10 unexcused absences - full days or part days - within six months, and no more than three absences within one month.
I have a call into him now. I haven’t spoken to him in more than a year, and I live in Nebraska, but will post as soon as i get a response from him!
The guy better hope there’s a whole lot more to this story than is being reported, or he could end up flipping hamburgers next to Mike Nifong at the golden arches.
She’s young enough for “truancy” laws to apply to her, but old enough to be charged as an adult??
Whenever a public official says they are going to “make an example” out of an individual, they are going to violate common sense and/or basic rights in favor of political posturing. No official that does this should be left in power.
Oh, they almost never “make an example” out of a member of a group with a strong sense of identity politics.
I know a lot of people who know Jimmy Dimora, and think he is a great guy. He’s still out of power (and in jail).
There should be no such law for a 17 year old. Perhaps the Truancy laws are seriously out of hand as well. I have seen otherwise sensible judges go way overboard in my own area when it comes to such laws. IOW Common Sense takes a vacation. BUT the school could have done her a bigger favor by simply having her Co-op. Meaning work during school hours. I worked a 40 hour week my senior year and no school time.
While we're waiting,you might want to help him out. He's getting TROUNCED on a FoxNews online poll...
________________________________________________________
Do you agree with Texas judge's decision to jail truant honors student
Not sure. 10.01% (3,193 votes)
Yes. 4.72% (1,505 votes)
No. 85.27% (27,202 votes)
____________________________________________________________
Not sure. 9.97% (3,435 votes)
Yes. 4.79% (1,650 votes)
No. 85.24% (29,355 votes)
_____________________________________________________________
The momentum is shifting! He's gone from 4.72% support to 4.79%!
What matters is what the voters of Montgomery County Pct. 1 think. Not You, Not me, Not Fox.
So when are we going to hear from him? I’m dying to hear the ‘real’ story.
This judge is a successful attorney, Proud Texan, and good Christian man, as well as a staunch Conservative. Have you ever thought that a true Conservative enforces the law AS WRITTEN. Only liberals make up their own law.
State law (Texas Education Code Section 25.085; PDF) provides that if a student is absent from school without parental consent for any portion of the school day for three days in a four-week period or for ten or more days in a six-month period, the student and the student’s parent or legal guardian are subject to prosecution by the Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Courts or Municipal Courts. The student may also be referred to a juvenile court.
Me too. I called and left a message with his Constable......
Is she over 16?? I thought that after 16 they couldn’t force kids to go to school.
I am not sure what the law allows. All I can attest to is HIS character. Which is impeccable.
What further information could change this story? Two jobs, a honors student with excellent grades, parents that are out of the picture and who is thrown in jail for the night. Sorry, your friend is a JACKASS! Does anyone know where I can donate or offer help to this young woman. She is stronger and tougher then most adults I know.
Thanks!!
There are no parents or legal guardians. The girl is on her own. This law was written under the assumption that the said student has a parent or guardian in charge. As this was not the case, doesn’t it follow that said law was not applicable in this case. Your twisting yourself into a pretzel trying to defend your friend. I wonder how many attorneys have contacted this student offering their services?
When our legal system punishes ones like this while reward ones like Party Time or Abandoning Children's Parents with mercy and help something bad, bad, is wrong in our justice system. I've seen it lots of times waiting outside court in the hallways.
Parents or grandparents raising grand kids & struggling with serious problems or ones trying to care for kids that parents don't want & really struggling and trying will get made examples of by egotistical judges. Parents who don't care about their kids in today's system will get rewarded by the system by same judges.
I observed two judges BTW over a two year time frame. In one of them Outlaw Parents meaning ones abusing, or neglected etc ruled. Woe unto anyone who spoke against such a wonderful parent in court. They got made an example of. Believe me I have had the contempt charge experience to know as much.
The other judge was rough on truancy to an extreme but not hard enough on abusers. If the judge did crack down on neglect or abuse Judge Bleeding Heart Liberal upstairs found a way to help poor Party or Abuser Parents especially the mother to get the kids back without even remorse. That judge made every excuse in the world to let even hard core abusers off.
Truancy laws past age 16 exist for one sole purpose. To fund the education system by compulsory attendance. The issues at that point isn't right or wrong or about a 17 year olds struggle. It's about federal and state funding too school districts. Sad but true that is all it is. You show up for school and sit there you'll get a D and pass. State and local district gets federal funds and all civil servants and tenured are happy. This kid had good grades and that proves my point in itself. It's not about education it's about money.
Has anyone stepped forward yet and said her situation is false? Watch what happens next. The siblings will likely get placed into the state custody system as the girl by state standards can not be the parent. This girl gets a criminal record. Watch as parents eventually come back and get the kids and get off Scott free {except a few required classes on parenting} maybe even public assistance to help with the kids.
Character is a sort of a limited asset when you've got **** for brains...
You need a much higher class of acquaintances.
In your opinion. Unless you are a Texan, and from Montgomery County, that opinion doesn’t mean jackshiiite!
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