Life Indiana teen faces possible jail time for sex doll prank gone wrong

Deberg_1990 · 07-06-2011, 01:09 PM

Wow, complete fail all around....

http://www.thegrio.com/news/indiana-...gone-wrong.php

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- When 18-year-old Tyell Morton put a blow-up sex doll in a bathroom stall on the last day of school, he didn't expect school officials to call a bomb squad or that he'd be facing up to eight years in prison and a possible felony record.

The senior prank gone awry has raised questions of race, prosecutorial zeal and the post-Columbine mindset in a small Indiana town and around the country, The Indianapolis Star reported in its Tuesday editions.

Legal experts question the appropriateness of the charges against Morton, and law professor Jonathan Turley at George Washington University posed a wider question about Morton's case on his legal blog.

"The question is what type of society we are creating when our children have to fear that a prank (could) lead them to jail for almost a decade. What type of citizens are we creating who fear the arbitrary use of criminal charges by their government?"

A janitor at Rushville Consolidated High School saw Morton run away from the school May 31, and security footage showed a person in a hooded sweatshirt and gloves entering the school with a package and leaving five minutes later without it, according to court documents. Administrators feared explosives, so they locked down the school and called police. K9 dogs and a bomb squad searched the building before finding the sex doll.

"We have reviewed this situation numerous times," Rush County Schools Superintendent John E. Williams told the newspaper last week. "When you have an unknown intruder in the building, delivering an unknown package, we come up with the same conclusion. ... We cannot be too cautious, in this day and age."

Morton was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and institutional criminal mischief, a felony that carries the potential of two to eight years in prison. "I know there has been plenty of pranks done at that school," said Morton's mother, Cammie Morton. "I went to that school. When I heard what they was charging him for, my heart just dropped."

Joel Schumm, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, questioned the validity of the charges. "Their reaction is understandable, but use the school disciplinary process," he said. "Don't try to label the kid a felon for the rest of his life."

The Rush County Prosecutor Philip J. Caviness told The Associated Press that he doesn't intend to seek a prison term for Morton, but said school officials acted appropriately and that the charges are warranted. "I'm pretty comfortable with the charges that we've filed," he said.

Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts focused on Morton's case recently in his nationally syndicated column, suggesting that Morton's case was another example of unfair treatment for a black youth without a wealthy family. Morton's father brushed off that suggestion when Pitts asked him about it, and Morton's mother declined to discuss that point with The Star.

Morton's attorney, Robert Turner, also downplayed race, suggesting that the size of the small blue-collar city an hour southeast of Indianapolis played a role. "I don't think they do this sort of thing very often," Turner said. "Had this happened in Indianapolis ... they would not have had this kind of charge filed."

Morton's mother said Tyell Morton wants to attend college, but is worried about the case. "It's stressful for Tyell," Cammie Morton said. "He doesn't know where his life is going to end up. He has been looking -- I'll just put it this way: He's scared."

**Rausch** · 07-06-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Joel Schumm, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, questioned the validity of the charges. "Their reaction is understandable, but use the school disciplinary process," he said. "Don't try to label the kid a felon for the rest of his life."

This...

**loochy** · 07-06-2011, 01:16 PM

Good lord people are stupid

frankotank · 07-06-2011, 01:19 PM

overinflated legalities!

**kysirsoze** · 07-06-2011, 01:20 PM

Poor kid. Talk about the system failing. A ****ing felony because they got freaked out about a bomb? If he had done anything to make it look bomb-like, there might be a case. Hopefully this gets thrown out.

07-06-2011, 01:21 PM

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding how adults lived to become adults. If this were my kid and an idiot school board couldn't address this very minor issue without involving authorities, I would be entangled with the authorities after assaulting some school board nitwits. Morons should be holding their meetings in a short bus.

Rooster · 07-06-2011, 01:23 PM

That's why you blow the doll up at home and then bring it in. That's sex doll 101 stuff.

Fish · 07-06-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

"We have reviewed this situation numerous times," Rush County Schools Superintendent John E. Williams told the newspaper last week. "When you have an unknown intruder in the building, delivering an unknown package, we come up with the same conclusion. ... We cannot be too cautious, in this day and age."

In this day and age? Why? Do we have school buildings exploding on a weekly basis in this day and age? I must have missed that.

Mr. Plow · 07-06-2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rausch

This...

Exactly. It's understandable for them to be concerned when seeing a hooded person bringing a package into the school, then leaving a short time without it. Especially in today's world where people are ****ing idiots.....but don't ruin the kid for life because of a prank.

Rooster · 07-06-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

In this day and age? Why? Do we have school buildings exploding on a weekly basis in this day and age? I must have missed that.

In this day and age Rushville Consolidated High School is a huge target for terrorists.. They are eight man football giants in the state of Indiana.

**Donger** · 07-06-2011, 01:29 PM

So, they thought that she was going to blow?

ToxSocks · 07-06-2011, 01:31 PM

Sigh. We must be living in the most scared country in the world. It's really disheartening. Makes me wish I lived through an earlier era.

Someone can't even forget their ****ing bag somewhere w/o people screaming "Bomb!"

Rooster · 07-06-2011, 01:31 PM

Rushville Consolidated High School, in cooperation with the community, will endeavor to prepare students to be contributing citizens and lifelong learners. We will strive to challenge all students academically, physically, technically, and socially, while developing critical-reasoning and problem-solving skills.

http://rchs.rushville.k12.in.us/

There is some humor in this.

ToxSocks · 07-06-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

In this day and age? Why? Do we have school buildings exploding on a weekly basis in this day and age? I must have missed that.

This.

I hate it when they say "this day and age" like we're suppose to be scared because of the time period we're in.

This day and age....Mother****ers....argh...

KurtCobain · 07-06-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detoxing

This.

I hate it when they say "this day and age" like we're suppose to be scared because of the time period we're in.

This day and age....Mother****ers....argh...

Well, kids do bring better guns to school. I had a stick of dynamite once I bought from another kid in 7th grade, if that thing had gone off it would've been a blown up school.

I'm not sure that happened so much when parents could beat their children. That's what has changed, kids aren't afraid of their elders any more.

And as for this case, I think shutting the school down and searching for a bomb was smart and the only right idea. Charging this kid with a felony, eh, I don't know. But did he break into the school? Not sure I caught that when I read the article. If he did, then yeah, he's an adult, breaking in to a place is a felony.

07-06-2011, 01:09 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $44454	Indiana teen faces possible jail time for sex doll prank gone wrong Wow, complete fail all around.... http://www.thegrio.com/news/indiana-...gone-wrong.php INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- When 18-year-old Tyell Morton put a blow-up sex doll in a bathroom stall on the last day of school, he didn't expect school officials to call a bomb squad or that he'd be facing up to eight years in prison and a possible felony record. The senior prank gone awry has raised questions of race, prosecutorial zeal and the post-Columbine mindset in a small Indiana town and around the country, The Indianapolis Star reported in its Tuesday editions. Legal experts question the appropriateness of the charges against Morton, and law professor Jonathan Turley at George Washington University posed a wider question about Morton's case on his legal blog. "The question is what type of society we are creating when our children have to fear that a prank (could) lead them to jail for almost a decade. What type of citizens are we creating who fear the arbitrary use of criminal charges by their government?" A janitor at Rushville Consolidated High School saw Morton run away from the school May 31, and security footage showed a person in a hooded sweatshirt and gloves entering the school with a package and leaving five minutes later without it, according to court documents. Administrators feared explosives, so they locked down the school and called police. K9 dogs and a bomb squad searched the building before finding the sex doll. "We have reviewed this situation numerous times," Rush County Schools Superintendent John E. Williams told the newspaper last week. "When you have an unknown intruder in the building, delivering an unknown package, we come up with the same conclusion. ... We cannot be too cautious, in this day and age." Morton was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, and institutional criminal mischief, a felony that carries the potential of two to eight years in prison. "I know there has been plenty of pranks done at that school," said Morton's mother, Cammie Morton. "I went to that school. When I heard what they was charging him for, my heart just dropped." Joel Schumm, a professor at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis, questioned the validity of the charges. "Their reaction is understandable, but use the school disciplinary process," he said. "Don't try to label the kid a felon for the rest of his life." The Rush County Prosecutor Philip J. Caviness told The Associated Press that he doesn't intend to seek a prison term for Morton, but said school officials acted appropriately and that the charges are warranted. "I'm pretty comfortable with the charges that we've filed," he said. Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts focused on Morton's case recently in his nationally syndicated column, suggesting that Morton's case was another example of unfair treatment for a black youth without a wealthy family. Morton's father brushed off that suggestion when Pitts asked him about it, and Morton's mother declined to discuss that point with The Star. Morton's attorney, Robert Turner, also downplayed race, suggesting that the size of the small blue-collar city an hour southeast of Indianapolis played a role. "I don't think they do this sort of thing very often," Turner said. "Had this happened in Indianapolis ... they would not have had this kind of charge filed." Morton's mother said Tyell Morton wants to attend college, but is worried about the case. "It's stressful for Tyell," Cammie Morton said. "He doesn't know where his life is going to end up. He has been looking -- I'll just put it this way: He's scared."
Posts: 68,727

07-06-2011, 01:16 PM	#3
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $-1809603	Good lord people are stupid __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 42,209

07-06-2011, 01:19 PM	#4
frankotank I like 'em mustard & biscuits Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Hill Casino cash: $10011076	overinflated legalities! __________________ A naked American man stole my balloons.
Posts: 6,787

07-06-2011, 01:20 PM	#5
kysirsoze SNAP THE ****ING BALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $16946	Poor kid. Talk about the system failing. A ****ing felony because they got freaked out about a bomb? If he had done anything to make it look bomb-like, there might be a case. Hopefully this gets thrown out.
Posts: 11,978

07-06-2011, 01:21 PM	#6
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Sometimes I have a hard time understanding how adults lived to become adults. If this were my kid and an idiot school board couldn't address this very minor issue without involving authorities, I would be entangled with the authorities after assaulting some school board nitwits. Morons should be holding their meetings in a short bus.
Posts: n/a

07-06-2011, 01:23 PM	#7
Rooster Draft a QB Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $9951689	That's why you blow the doll up at home and then bring it in. That's sex doll 101 stuff. __________________ When Reno Hightower was a prick he was the best damn quarterback in the history of Kern County.
Posts: 5,753

07-06-2011, 01:29 PM	#11
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6809900 VARSITY	So, they thought that she was going to blow? __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 191,136

07-06-2011, 01:31 PM	#12
ToxSocks Needs more middle fingers Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Casino cash: $1993063	Sigh. We must be living in the most scared country in the world. It's really disheartening. Makes me wish I lived through an earlier era. Someone can't even forget their ****ing bag somewhere w/o people screaming "Bomb!" __________________ Life is like a dick. Sometimes it gets hard for no reason, but it can't stay hard forever.
Posts: 65,925

07-06-2011, 01:31 PM	#13
Rooster Draft a QB Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $9951689	Mission Statement: Rushville Consolidated High School Rushville Consolidated High School, in cooperation with the community, will endeavor to prepare students to be contributing citizens and lifelong learners. We will strive to challenge all students academically, physically, technically, and socially, while developing critical-reasoning and problem-solving skills. http://rchs.rushville.k12.in.us/ There is some humor in this. __________________ When Reno Hightower was a prick he was the best damn quarterback in the history of Kern County.
Posts: 5,753