Tuesday, November 19, 2013

LAWYER CALLS SETTING FIRE TO STUDENT ON BUS A ‘PRANK’

By Bob Walsh

PACOVILLA Corrections blog
November 17, 2013

The basic facts of the situation are not in question. On November 4 Luke (aka Sasha) Fleischman was on a Alameda County transit bus and was sleeping. Fleischman is anatomically male and is a transgender activist. He does not self-identify as either male or female. He was wearing a skirt at the time. Richard Thomas, 16, set fire to him as he slept, causing serious burns and endangering others.

Thomas' lawyer is arguing that the incident was merely a “prank” and should be handled as such. Thomas is in fact being prosecuted as an adult for a hate crime. The lawyer is alleging that setting Fleischman on fire was not intended to harm him in the slightest. Somehow I think they have an uphill fight on getting this kicked back to juvenile court.

Actions have consequences. Stupid, dangerous, vicious and hateful actions have serious consequences, or at least they should.

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