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Title: Mom Arrested, Charged with Felony for Putting Recorder in 9-year-old's Backpack to Catch Her Bully
Source:
Free Thought Project/WAVY-TV
URL Source: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/mo ... r-school-backpack-catch-bully/
Published: Nov 22, 2017
Author: Matt Agorist
Post Date: 2017-11-23 10:03:57 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 7670
Comments: 66
Norfolk, VA — For weeks, Sarah Sims said she called and emailed school officials repeatedly to tell them her child was being bullied at school and was never given a response. So, she took matters into her own hands and now she is facing felony charges. Sims discovered her daughter was being bullied in late September. So, like any parent would do, she reached out to school officials for help. But she received nothing. “The thing that bothers me the most is that I am yet to get a response from anyone in the administration,” Sims added. After being shrugged off by the school, Sims decided that she would take matters into her own hands and catch her 9-year-old daughter’s bully. “I tried to be fair, but it’s not fair,” said Sims. “There is nothing fair about this.” She wanted to obtain proof that nothing was being done to help her 4th-grader, so she put a digital recorder in her backpack to capture audio from inside the classroom. “If I’m not getting an answer from you, what am I left to do?” she asked. Shortly after placing the recorder in her daughter’s backpack, it was found by the school who has a no electronic device policy. Her daughter was then moved to a new class and police came after Sims. “I was mortified,” Sims said. “The next thing I know, I’m a felon. Felony charges and a misdemeanor when I’m trying to look out for my kid. What do you do?” Local news outlet WAVY contacted the Norfolk School system for a comment and they were told because it is a pending investigation no one could comment on what happened. We were told that in elementary schools, no electronic devices are allowed. “They aren’t making this about that classroom,” said Sims’ attorney Kristin Paulding. “[These] are charges that carry jail time.” According to WAVY, Sims was charged with felony use of device to intercept oral communication and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The felony charge could carry five years in prison. “Instead of comforting her she’s going to a magistrate and being handcuffed,” Paulding added. For simply listening to what her own child went through during the day via a recording device, this mother is facing a felony charge that can land her in jail. Hopefully, as her attorney notes, these charges won’t hold up in court. “We are at the very early stages of this, but even at the early stages I think the community needs to know that this is happening because any parent out there that is sending their child to school now could be at risk for something that happened to Sarah,” Paulding said. Sadly, TFTP has reported on mothers putting recording devices in their child’s backpack to catch bullies after the school failed to act. Megan Dowdy was one of those mothers. Dowdy said her son had been having night terrors. She suspected something wrong was happening at school, so she placed a recording device in her son’s pocket. Her child, who’s 13-years-old and autistic, has the cognitive skills of a first-grader and the communication capacity of a kindergartener, according to Dowdy. She said his behavior at night led her to believe something terrible was happening at school. She said, “He kept getting up during the night having night terrors, screaming, having meltdowns for no reason.” What Dowdy found with her recorder was horrifying. Her autistic son’s bully was a cop. A Pinellas County school resource officer, serving in Osceola Middle School, was caught on audio recordings abusing the autistic child. Ironically, the officer, Ural Darling, had been celebrated as one of Florida’s top school resource officers for his work in preventing bullying. All that has since changed now that Darling has been found to be the bully, caught by the student’s mother verbally torturing the child. He was fired in August but unlike Sarah Sims in the story above—who merely tried to catch her daughter’s bully—the officer was not charged.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 52.
#1. To: Deckard (#0)
How did they find it? If the school searches packpacks every day, then perhaps the girl should have told her mother that it wasn't a good idea. Something is being left out of this story. Given that this article is from the freethoughtproject, that wouldn't surprise me.
Mommy probably didn't tell her little angel that she was being used like a chump. Mommy didn't know that in Virginia, at least ONE PARTY needs to know they are being recorded... or it's an illegal wiretap or ease dropping felony. With a mommy that stupid... no wonder her mutts get harassed at school.
How did I know that you will be on the side of a bully?
How did I know you'd crumble at the idea of a bully, like all snowflakes these days. Don't you libtards know that "bullies" have been in existence since the caveman. Why is it just lately, it's a matter of national security? You libtards love weakening the populace... I guess in your libtard mind, you've gotta protect everyone... just like your libtard welfare ideas of feeding the animals.
Because bullying an autistic child is a crime and the person(s) responsible for their egregious behavior towards this child can expect to be sued under the ADA Act and possibly proceed per the Civil Rights Act based their appearance and denial of equal protections of the law as well as hostile environment created by the perpetrator(s).
We don't need laws that specifically name blacks, fags, cops, woman, Muslims or even autistic persons as victims in a hate crime. It's not illegal to hate. Harassment and assault covers EVERYONE... even if you weak snowflakes crumble at the term "bully"... it doesn't make it illegal unless the suspect party knowingly committed an act against the victim within the Harassment or Assault statutes. And don't friggin suggest such bullshit. Even autistic, artistic and retards need to learn how to defend themselves.
You may consider autistic people to be retards whereas to others they are gifted people. They make up for a huge difference in our society and bring about positive changes in this world. They are not retarded or stupid. And as far as defending themselves, they are already a protected class by the federal government.
You preach limited government to suck the asses of the banned Free Republic filth that post here... and then suck the ass of big daddy gov when it suits your weak snowflake feelings. Show me a law in your state that specifically protects an autistic person from "bullying". And I don't consider autism as retardism...I merely was pointing out whether your AUTISTIC, artistic... retarded, female, queer, black, law enforcement or the family pet... you don't deserve nor need a special law that protects you. There are already laws on the books that protect against Harassment and Assault. Hatred IS NOT A CRIME.
How about the law of compassion? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I realize that a big, tough, macho man, internet warrior like you has the compassion of Hitler - but most rational people will agree that you don't bully anyone, let alone someone who is retarded or austic. Hatred IS NOT A CRIME. Lucky for you - if it were, you'd be doing consecutive life sentences.
And I'll tell you that "bullying" is an important and needed facet to human nature... its part of our checks and balances... keeping us from becoming weak as a species. You'd rather have everyone cry over everything, and get fucking HIGH to cope with that which you're too weak to stomach. Then... you toss the word "Hitler" back like Black Lies Matters tosses "RACISM" back to justify their position. GFY
Stop lying piggie. As I have stated emphatically in numerous posts - I don't use drugs. I am a fervent believer that legalization is the best way to get a handle on the drug problem. See Portugal for more information. FYI - it's a country in Europe.
See Portugal for more information. Okay, let’s do that….look at Portugal for more information. Drugs in Portugal were not legalized. In Portugal, drugs are still illegal, but any user carrying less than 10 days’ worth of illicit substances will simply have their supply confiscated. They will then undergo an assessment with a social worker, psychologist, and lawyer. Only a small fraction of users will experience further consequences. These can range from a few days’ community service to a ban on visiting venues in which the person is known to obtain or use drugs. Some high-risk cases may receive invitations to undergo treatment. Drug rehab is voluntary in all but the most exceptional circumstances. In Portugal, recreational use of cannabis is still forbidden by law. Decriminalization is NOT legalization. Decriminalization in Italy was an abject failure. So, you really don’t know what you are talking about….pothead.
The point is - Portugal has done something that actually works. In 2001, the Portuguese government did something that the United States would find entirely alien. After many years of waging a fierce war on drugs, it decided to flip its strategy entirely: It decriminalized them all. If someone is found in the possession of less than a 10-day supply of anything from marijuana to heroin, he or she is sent to a three-person Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction, typically made up of a lawyer, a doctor and a social worker. The commission recommends treatment or a minor fine; otherwise, the person is sent off without any penalty. A vast majority of the time, there is no penalty. Fourteen years after decriminalization, Portugal has not been run into the ground by a nation of drug addicts. In fact, by many measures, it's doing far better than it was before. What's gotten better? In terms of usage rate and health, the data show that Portugal has by no means plunged into a drug crisis. As this chart from Transform Drug Policy Foundation shows, the proportion of the population that reports having used drugs at some point saw an initial increase after decriminalization, but then a decline: "We're losing badly the war on drugs," Trump said in 1990, per The Herald. "You have to legalize drugs to win that war." "You have to take the profit away from these drug czars." Trump further explained that tax revenues from a legal drug trade could be used to educate the public about "the dangers of drugs."
#53. To: Deckard (#52)
The real point is that you don’t know what the fuck you are talking about. You said Portugal legalized drugs and that was a LIE. So decriminalization has been tried in two Western countries. It has partially succeeded in Portugal and was an abject failure in Italy. What makes you think that decriminalization would work in America since certain specific aspects (cherry picking) of Portugal’s model have been used to either support or critique decriminalization as an answer to various social problems. While many of these statistics can be difficult to measure and interpret, it would appear that it’s had had both positive and negative impacts. You and your other advocates for a drugged society only try to present some of the few positive aspects….but NEVER do you mention the negative impacts. Why is that? Strongly biased….are you? Of course you are. Many proponents of decriminalization CLAIM that Portugal managed to decrease overall drug use, but it really depends on how we choose to interpret the statistics. Lifetime drug users (defined as people who have tried any drug, even once) actually rose from 8% to 12% between 2001-2007, then declined once more to 9.5% in 2014. ‘Problem’ drug users–those who have come into contact with the police or rehabilitation facilities due to their drug habit–seem to have decreased by more than 10%. However, these statistics could be flawed due to differences in measurements through the years. Past month and year drug use has remained steadily low, with only 5% of 18-24 year olds, for example, having used cannabis in the past month. This is what you call a SUCCESS rate….one that you can proudly point to? You completely ignore the fact that a lack of information makes it difficult to plot usage of ‘harder’ drugs over time. Get fucking real!!! While you druggies try to cherry pick information and show only a few positive benefits in the crime rates in Portugal, you all have completely ignored and it will come as a surprise to others that these sweeping changes to the legal system have also resulted in some negative repercussions. Arguably, the most glaring issue is the rise in homicides, which climbed by about 60%from 2001-2007. They have evened out since, though, and currently sit at a little more than 10% more than they were pre-decriminalization. Ah ha! The criminal landscape has certainly changed by incarcerations, but it doesn’t seem to be growing smaller. Incarcerations have risen slightly from 2001 to 2012 despite the fact that fewer than half as many people are now incarcerated for drug crimes. Those who are pro-decriminalization often point to this statistic as a sign that police are now unburdened from their duties in persecuting small drug offenses, and are now able to tackle more substantial crime. Others argue that lax drug laws have led to more crime, and back up their claim by referencing the growing underground population reported by undercover agents interviewed in the study. You want to as a takeaway from Portugal’s drug policy a reason to cite the Portuguese model is evidence that the US should adopt a similar policy. Well, that wrong….Bubba. Because there is no evidence that America could apply their techniques as they currently stand. All you have is a dream and a desire and you want to undertake a vast social experimentation. Again, Bubba….get fucking real. You fail to realize that Portugal stands on a strong foundation of socialized public health care which differs enormously from what we have in the US. Portugal coddles their addicts with socialized medicine. Americans don’t need or want socialized medicine. Finally, it’s important to step back and remember that large-scale social transformation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Portugal, like the rest of the world, has witnessed unprecedented change since 2001. Factors including the technological revolution, the growth of the EU, and the economic crisis must all be considered. Still, anyone advocating for decriminalization should analyze the results carefully. .
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestShortly after placing the recorder in her daughter’s backpack, it was found by the school who has a no electronic device policy.
#3. To: misterwhite (#1)
(Edited)
#26. To: GrandIsland, misterwhite, Gatlin (#3)
#28. To: A Pole (#26)
#29. To: GrandIsland (#28)
Don't you libtards know that "bullies" have been in existence since the caveman. Why is it just lately, it's a matter of national security?
#31. To: goldilucky (#29)
Because bullying an autistic child is a crime
#41. To: GrandIsland (#31)
#42. To: goldilucky (#41)
they are already a protected class by the federal government.
#43. To: GrandIsland, goldilucky (#42)
Show me a law in your state that specifically protects an autistic person from "bullying".
#47. To: Deckard (#43)
rational people will agree that you don't bully anyone,
#49. To: GrandIsland (#47)
You'd rather have everyone cry over everything, and get fucking HIGH to cope with that which you're too weak to stomach.
#51. To: Deckard, GrandIsland (#49)
(Edited)
I am a fervent believer that legalization is the best way to get a handle on the drug problem.
#52. To: Gatlin (#51)
(Edited)
Replies to Comment # 52. The point is -
End Trace Mode for Comment # 52.
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