UPDATE

I heard from the Fort Bend Herald this morning, and the editor will be printing my letter tomorrow. I had to shorten it to about 1/3 of the length, so I submitted the text below. Since it got edited down, and after reading what people were saying about the boy on the Houston Chronicle website, I decided to submit the letter to the Chronicle as well. We'll see! Anyway, here is the new text:

Dear Editor:

I read yesterday that the Needville School District wants to have the boy who confessed to the Needville High School fire tried as an adult. Superintendent Curtis Rhodes was quoted in the Fort Bend Herald as saying, “Whomever it is…this is an adult crime.... It's not a juvenile issue, in our opinion. It's an adult crime and should be dealt with in an adult manner.”

I understand that the crime was obviously pre-meditated and caused severe property damage, but the crime was committed by a 16 year old boy. A minor. Not an adult. Other news organizations are reporting that the boy has fought with mental illness and has sought professional help in the past.

I am as upset as anyone else that this fire destroyed the school. A lot was lost in that fire – old trophies, photos, school records, personal property, etc. But, I just cannot side with someone who wants the young man tried as an adult – for, he is not one. He was obviously troubled and needed help. I also believe that a boy of this age is just that – a boy.

Luckily, no lives were lost in the incident – although I also understand that plenty of lives were put at risk due to the intensity of the fire. In the end though, it was only property that was destroyed – no loss of human life. The school will recover and continue on. Although a very tragic event, we must put this into perspective that it was things that were lost – not people.

If this boy is tried as an adult, it would be an atrocity. Can you imagine putting a 16 year old boy into a Texas prison with violent offenders? The damage done to this child would be irreparable. I am not saying that we should let the young man off the hook for his crime. I just argue he should not receive a punishment which greatly outweighs the impact of his crime.

Justice should be served, but fairly. There is too much revenge seeking in the world today as opposed to justice seeking. We need to strive and repair that which is broken – in this case, the life of a 16 year old boy who made a terrible, terrible mistake.

Needville will rebuild the high school and no doubt continue reaching heights of academic excellence. This fire did not destroy the Bluejay spirit. So, when we seek justice for the crime committed, let’s not destroy this troubled young man’s hope for some sort of a productive future. Let the Bluejay spirit be one of justice, not revenge.

-Michelle Newman
Needville High School Graduate 1996
Currently residing in Durham, NC