The lawyer said he’s baffled that prosecutors pursued the case and that a youth judge oversaw a sentence that included probation and requiring the child to write a report about Kobe Bryant.

The lawyer said he’s baffled that prosecutors pursued the case and that a youth judge oversaw a sentence that included probation and requiring the child to write a report about Kobe Bryant.

A 10-year-old Black child in Mississippi who urinated in public in August was sentenced Tuesday in youth court to three months’ probation, a decision the child’s attorney says was influenced by race.

Quantavious Eason, who is in the third grade, was arrested by Senatobia police Aug. 10 after a police officer saw him relieving himself outside next to his mom’s car when the woman was inside an attorney’s office, according to family attorney Carlos Moore.

Given the circumstances, any child would have done the same thing, Moore said. He noted there was no public restroom at the attorney’s office.

  • psivchaz@reddthat.com
    471·
    1 year ago

    The thing that sticks out to me, that no one seems to be talking about, is this:

    “…this week oversaw a sentence that included probation and requiring Quantavious to write a two-page report about Kobe Bryant.”

    He’s charged with urinating outside. Already stupid and ridiculous. But then the judge assigns homework, which… What? And then it’s about Kobe Bryant which has what to do with urinating outside? Why Kobe Bryant?? Is there a public urination charge in his past I don’t know about? Did the judge ask “who’s your favorite person?” and assign homework based on that?

    It’s a dumb thing to be concerned about, but it’s somehow even weirder to me than the rest of it.

    • ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml
      192·
      1 year ago

      Read in white news lady voice:

      Quantavious Eason, the urban youth convicted in the case, is alleged by police to have yelled “I’m the Kobe Bryant of public urination” while urinating in front of the officers near his mother’s car.

      Judge Smith, who oversaw the case, assigned Quantavious probabtion, and ordered him to write a two-page essay on Kobe Bryant, asking the boy:

      court recording plays

      Judge: WHAT is WRONG with you?

      Quantavious: N-nothin I just really needed to pee…

      Judge: Are you aware of Kobe Bryant’s dominance in the sport of basketball?

      Quantavious: Ummm… Y-yes sir he’s the g-goat

      Judge: Do you really think your pitiful little pee pee you did by your momma’s car puts you in the same league as Kobe? May he rest in peace…

      Court: murmurs

      Judge: Young man, you need to reflect on what you’ve done and take that stank off Kobe’s name.

      Quantavious: But I didn’t even s-say that stuff though…

      Judge: Is that back-talk? Alright. Probabtion. slams gavel

      Quantavious: Sir I’m 10 years old…

    • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】@lemmy.world
      61·
      1 year ago

      I just think the article doesn’t give enough detail. At the same time, I also don’t think it matters really what the person writes about as long as it’s some sort of topic that has to do with being a good community member.

      • Perhaps the urge is to make the person write about why they shouldn’t do the crime again (not that this should have been a criminal matter), and the instinct is to make the person feel ashamed about their antisocial behavior. Better to build a relationship to a positive role model in the community than to label the person as shameful, imo.
    • mindbleach
      1·
      1 year ago

      I dunno if it’s cruel and unusual, but it’s definitely what-the-fuck territory.