A 17-year-old was recently given the chance to prove to her parents and the court that she is capable of controlling herself from behavior that the judge called “very serious.”
According to the court, the girl had an altercation with one of her parents, a September incident outlined in a report Highland County Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Greer referenced in the courtroom, but did not detail.
The teenager was charged with domestic violence and assault, but was allowed to admit to the lesser offense of disorderly conduct.
As recommended by the state, she was placed on probation for an indefinite period of time and ordered to complete anger management classes. Her parents offered no objection.
Disrespecting a parent, even physically lashing out, the judge said he considered to be “very serious.”
Greer said this was the teenager’s “one chance” to show her parents and the court that the behavior that landed her in the courtroom was not going to be the way she would continue to behave.
The judge said if she was back in court for the same thing, her spending 90 days in detention would be “very likely.”
In other hearings, temporary custody of an infant that tested positive for drugs at birth was put with Children Services after the court heard testimony on the matter.
According to assistant prosecutor Molly Bolek, the child has two other siblings that are also in the custody of the county.
The parents must successfully complete the elements of a case plan through Children Services to be reunified with the children.
A 16-year-old male who was previously put on community control for a misdemeanor assault charge admitted to violating his probation by missing numerous school days. He was continued on community control for the violation.
A 13-year-old female was put on community control supervision for an indefinite period of time after she admitted to being unruly, a charge based on her behavior toward her parents, according to the complaint.
In an emergency hearing, the court put the temporary custody of one child with Children Services after a report from police in regard to drug allegations on the child’s custodial parent and an emergency order removing the child from the home.
The child was placed with his other parent by Children Services. Until the court can hear testimony, Greer left the child within the county’s custody, saying that he trusted the judgement of Children Services and the state in making that placement recommendation.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
