@jca
Well let’s just go ahead and throw out this idea of “nothing happens to him.” Something most certainty will. The police show up. You’re asked if you want to press charges. You don’t get to just “let the chips fall where they may.” Your response dictates the outcome and you have to make a choice.
This happened in Wisconsin, so…
Class A Misdemeanor Theft
In Wisconsin, theft is a class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services stolen does not exceed $2,500. (§ 943.20(3).) The punishment for a class A misdemeanor in Wisconsin can include a fine of no more than $10,000, imprisonment for no more than nine months, or both. (§ 939.51(3)(a).)
Remember, pressing charges means if it goes to court you will have to show up and give testimony. This is highly unlikely, but just because it IS a possibility, let’s say he gets sentenced to the full extent of the law. $10,000 fine and 9 months in jail. Now you may think that’s reasonable or terribly harsh… Either way, now it’s out of your hands.
As this 14 year old kid is being escorted from the courtroom to go lose almost a year out of some of the most developmentally crucial times in youth, his mother is crying in the audience for the loss of her son and the $10,000 fine that will cripple her financially.
Now how do you feel? Was justice served?
Mind you, the chips did not just fall, you guided them. This is all a direct result of how you decided to handle the situation, and it’s a lie/rationalization/cop-out to think anything else.