Slap on wrist given for child neglect

Our judicial system has lost its way. As strange as this may sound, a man who films abuse of a cat gets more jail time than adults who neglect their children. This makes no sense.

Since we’re talking about court cases, let’s get right to the evidence and examine exhibit 1. It’s the case of a couple who left three children, ranging in age from 7 years old to 5 months, at home alone while they ran to the store to reportedly buy cookies. Cookies, apparently, are more important than the livelihood of their three kids.

So what happens to these fine, upstanding citizens? The husband and wife each get five days in jail. Boy, they sure won’t do that again.

Exhibit 2 is a father who leaves for work and also leaves his 3-year-old at home alone. The child was found wandering around Bybee Branch Road. He could have been killed by a car.

So what happens to this fine gentleman who could have very well intended to leave this child alone for hours? You guessed it. He gets five days in jail. A pattern is emerging.

That brings us to exhibit 3, a man who videotaped a juvenile beating a cat. The abuse was reportedly severe as the cat was hit, stomped and flung.

There was never any evidence this man took part in any of the brutality. Rather, he encouraged the teen’s behavior and could be heard laughing on the videotape.

So what happens to this apparently less-than-stable individual? He gets 10 days in jail. That’s twice the amount of time as the cases involving children. The teen was confined to juvenile custody.

Last but not least, there’s exhibit 4, the case of a man who filed down the teeth of a dog. While there hasn’t been a plea agreement or a verdict in this case, one of the charges was recently upgraded to a felony after international outcry. It’s difficult to say what sort of jail time this man will receive, but I feel fairly safe in saying it will be more than five days.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should emphasize that in the cases involving the children, there was no direct intent to cause harm. The parents didn’t beat or injure them. Rather, they left them unattended and hoped for the best. In the cases involving the animals, it is alleged physical harm was intended.

That disclaimer aside, we’re talking about kids versus animals. In my book, there’s no way someone deserves more jail time for a crime against a cat than a crime against a child.

Sure animals are lovable and they’re a big part of many families. But there’s absolutely no comparison between my cat and my kids. My cat could run away tomorrow and I’d be OK. If something were to happen to one of my kids, I’d be in emotional shambles.

Yet our judicial system seems to look at this the other way. Leaving your kid at home to wander into the road is not as bad as filming someone kicking a cat.

It’s not my intent to be insensitive to crimes against animals. I fully realize statistics show people who abuse animals are increasingly likely to abuse other people. My argument is our priorities are out of whack by handing out a harsher punishment for a crime against an animal than a crime against a child.

Since the Cheyenne Delp murder trial in March, I’ve heard many people wonder how our system allowed a child to be abused over a three-year period and ultimately killed.

I think I’ve finally found the answer. We’re too busy worrying about some cat.

James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].