I would like to point out a couple of things as a non-lawyer.

You stated that, “…not insignificant segments of the community are rallying behind them and against the school district…”.

Actually, from the various sources I found covering this story, which provided a feedbacks/comments forum, I saw an overwhelming majority speaking out against what the kids did, making whatever support base they attempted to show very insignificant, in my opinion.

As it is, the so-called televised protest for the kids seems staged, to me. If anything, I was surprised at how small a showing was actually there to support them.

You closed with, “More juvenile cases should be handled like this one.”. I respectfully disagree.

I believe this incident became such a public matter because it was the strategy of the attorney/s and the parents to try to make these kids out to be victims. I believe they were counting on their Community to back them up. I’m guessing they were pretty surprised & disappointed when they discovered that the majority was against them. We weren’t about to fall for such a bogus term as “prank”, when “vandalism” was clearly written all over this incident.

Had these kids not had parents who immediately scrambled for an attorney to dream up the whole “prank” story, I think things might have gone harder for them. Also, if what was discussed in some of the forums is accurate, that one of the parents was connected to the school district, perhaps the school may have been more inclined to do what they should’ve done and pressed charges, early on.

From the beginning, the word “prank” was being used for what appeared to be for no other reason than to lessen the actual vandalism that occurred. What I found to be disturbing was the planning that went into committing this crime. What bothered me the most was the reason for the vandalism, to deprive other students from benefitting from the shade that was traditionally provided to all students.

I really feel that the reason alone speaks volumes about the type of people these kids are growing up to become and the kind of parenting they’ve had, especially considering how the parents have mishandled this whole situation. Had they been better parents, punishment from them would’ve made the school’s decision/actions feel/look like a walk in the park.

I believe that a recent story regarding a threatening letter to the parents is being publicized in an attempt to gain sympathy for those vandals, along with their parents, and again, to distract from the crime that actually took place.

As far as I’m concerned, the vandals admitted a crime (a felony), and their parents confirmed it. As such, I believe there’s still plenty of time to file charges, something that should’ve happened from the start.

I think this whole thing comes down to kids who were given special treatment, by not being arrested, which made them feel entitled to even more special consideration, the supposed “right” to continue attending a school they intentionally desecrated.

I’m just grateful that the majority of the Public saw through the “prank” facade, and recognized what I feel this whole thing is really all about, vandalism, felony vandalism.