12 year old charged with battery in school game

Once again, I don't even need to add commentary. But I will say this. I may have to stop playing paintball with anyone under the age of 18. Assault and battery against a minor is not what I'd call a pleasant thing to contemplate. Possibly bring a legal paper with me and demand my opponents sign it.

It's a matter of time, folks. It's only a matter of time. And when a cop arrests someone at a paintball field for battery, I'll TRY not to gloat when I say "I told you so."

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3510049

Girl, 12, charged with battery in school game
Boy claims he was unfairly targeted in dodge ball-style sport at Hermosa
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA - The Schneiders family knows the city's juvenile court well. They have been there a dozen times in the past six months, waiting for pre-trial hearings in a queue of young delinquents, gang members and other problem minors. Yelling occurs, expletives are heard, and in the midst of it all is Brittany Schneiders.

It didn't matter that at 12, Brittany has made the honor roll seven years in a row. It didn't matter the girl aspiring to become a veterinarian had never stepped foot in the principal's office until last May.

Brittany is charged with battery for what happened May 8 in a playground game at Hermosa Elementary School.

Brittany kicked a ball that hit a playground mate, and in the opinion of the district attorney, there is ample evidence to prove that she kicked it a little too hard. For that reason, her trial in juvenile court begins March 14.

In a game of wall ball, a boy last May claimed he was unfairly targeted by a group of students who continuously threw and kicked a ball at him. According to the Schneiders, the boy, who was wearing braces, started to bleed in the mouth and complained of headaches and bruises to the head.

After an investigation by a school resources officer, six children, including Brittany, were charged with battery. The parents of five students have opted to resolve the case with the probation department but the Schneiders family has refused. They believe Brittany was merely involved in a game where the intent was to hit somebody with the ball and that she had committed no crime.

According to Brittany, wall ball, a game similar to dodge ball, involves a team throwing or kicking a ball toward another team standing against a wall. If hit, that person is out.

"We were playing it at lunchtime," explained Brittany at her family's Rancho Cucamonga home. "And there's usually two or three proctors in the yard when we're playing."

After the incident, Brittany and five others were suspended from school for one day.

Complaints by the injured student and his family prompted an investigation by a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy who serves as the school resources officer. Raymond Schneiders, Brittany's father and a veteran detective with a local law enforcement agency, said his daughter was interrogated by deputy Tina Shaffia who questioned Brittany before reading her rights.

Shaffia could not be reached for comment for this story.

Schneiders filed a complaint to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department against Shaffia in June. He now believes this case has gone this far because he had filed a complaint.

"This has nothing to do with right and wrong," the father said. "There's a saying `follow the money.' Well, in this case, it's follow the ego."

David Hidalgo, supervising deputy district attorney for San Bernardino County, said law prohibits him from commenting on a juvenile case. But he said that in juvenile cases involving battery charges -- considered a misdemeanor -- there is an option of informal probation, which involves the minor meeting with a probation officer and serving community service.

"When parents refuse to cooperate to resolve a case in this manner, the probation office has no other option to send it the DA," Hidalgo explained. "If we believe a crime has been committed, we determine to seek petition in juvenile court."

Hidalgo added that sometimes parents make decisions to the detriment to the minor involved.

If the court finds allegations to be true for a minor facing misdemeanor charges, the juvenile will be placed on formal probation, Hidalgo said. If that minor continues to have problems, he or she could be placed in a group home or, in serious cases, placed in the California Youth Authority.

One parent of a child charged, who requested to remain anonymous, said the six-month probation for his son ends in March.

The probation, said the parent, involves regular visits to the probation officer and "community service" to be served at home. Under probation, the boy is not allowed to leave the state without first telling the probation officer, said the parent.

"Terms of probation are not severe or too much, but I do believe they're unjust. Really, these kids were playing a game," said the parent. "These were honor roll students, now they're branded as criminals. It's insane."

What's especially puzzling to the Schneiders is that the victim's family has relayed messages via attorneys, that they are not interested in pressing charges and did not intend for the complaints to go this far. According to the Schneiders, Brittany was friends with the boy and had attended a birthday party at his house.

Suzanne Schneiders, Brittany's mother, said the incident and court appearances have taken a toll on her daughter. She said Brittany has quit playing club soccer and has trouble sleeping at nights.

"They should have zero tolerance for gang members," Suzanne Schneiders said. "But zero tolerance for a girl playing dodge ball?"

The family also is appealing to have a new judge assigned to the case. Raymond Schneiders said the judge had said in a conversation with their attorney that he would find Brittany guilty and therefore they should plead guilty.

Alta Loma School District Superintendent Janet Morey said wall ball continues to be played at Hermosa Elementary and is played safely. Current students say the game has many variations but a soft, red ball is used, not a soccer ball, as was used in last year's incident.

Currently, wall ball is not being played at the schools of neighboring Cucamonga or Etiwanda school districts.

Wendy Leung can be reached by e-mail at wendy.leung@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9376.

LaSoya blasts player "execution style" point blank

Sometimes, you don't need to add commentary.

Here's a thread from PGI's website, and a thread on PB Nation as well. and the basics of the incident.

Oakland Assassins (Bob Long's team) Vs. Doc's Raiders.

The Raiders and Assassins went at it and this match will be the talk of the tournament for those that witnessed this match up. Assassins Chris Lasoya swears up and down that he shot a Raider and when that Raider kept playing Chris Lasoya took “justice” into his own hands. When the accused Raider finally stood up to exit the field, Lasoya came up and brought his barrel to the guy’s head and shot him point blank execution style. (as reported by xdynastyx24)

It was pointed out on p8ntball's forums "It was amusing that quite a few spectators were chanting Chris's name in the stands. Goes to show that while most do not condone these actions, at lot were entertained by it."

On behalf of the Oakland Assassin's, the Infamous Team and Bob Long, we extend an apology to the Doc's Raider Player, the Doc Raider organization, our Sponsors, the NXL and the Fans of Paintball. Bob and the Team do not condone the actions taken by Chris during this unfortuate event. Disciplinary action has been handed down and will commence as follows: Chris Lasoya will be suspended from the Team for the entire Huntington Beach event and the first day of the Las Vegas PSP event. A formal apology from Chris will be forth coming, if it already has been made. It is our understanding that Chris has already personally apologized to the Doc's Raider player involved.
At the time this happen we were up 3-1, the incident costs us the pending point and 1 was taken away for the infraction, which left us at 2-1 starting the next half. These actions taken by Chris changed the momentum of the match, we ended up soon down 2-3, but in the end prevailed thru the hearts of the rest Team.
It has been clearly pointed out to Chris, if this ever happens again, he will be permanently ejected from the Team and his sponsor will cease their support.

LaSoya himslef posted on PB Nation :

Hey guys.... yes I felt bad about it and it was the heat of the moment thing but it still did not make it right. I did call him after I arrived home yesterday and made it right. It was a real dumb thing to do and yes I will never do it again. Once again sorry guys..

You know... Even though this is a "cynics" blog, and I could have a field day ripping this apart, I don't think I need to this time. Other than to say it's nice to see that a phone call "makes it right" to shoot somoene point blank in the back of the head outside of the game play. If a football player clips another guy at the knees intentionally, destroying his career, will a phone call "make it right"?

This sport needs a healthy dose of "Grow the hell up".

The "Bodi Principle" of criticism

If you don't keep up with the Olympics, I'll recap the topic. Downhill skier Bode Miller was disqualified on his "combined" run for straddling a gate in the slalom. He's an athlete in a precision sport. That happens.

But all I've heard today from sports analysts is how much Bode choked. "He's not living up to his own hype." And "He's talking big but he can't perform." And all sorts of other nasty things. And you know what, that grates me the wrong way.

Fine, Bode said he gets sloshed and goes skiing. A lot of other people do that except they're not Olympic athletes. Bode said this, and that, and the other thing. Let's go over something here. From all I can see, he's a skier. Skiing is a LONE sport. You go on the mountain, and even if you're with buddies you're going down the hill alone. So when he's talking about skiing, he's basically on his own too.

Skiing is a precision sport, especially slalom skiing. Athletes are not robots, they're not machines. They're people. And people do make mistakes. When I checked last time, even the biathlon athletes missed targets once in a while. Bowlers don't roll strikes all the time. Barry Bonds doesn't smack homers all the time (with or without 'roids, but who's counting that?)

So he missed. BIG FREAKING DEAL. He's a "star athlete", but he's also still human. I wonder what sports analysts would do if they were scrutinized by athletes as harsh as they give it out. "Well he is a Cornhusker, so it's no surprise who he's rooting for. You know his facts are totally wrong on the other team. I can't believe a professional like him would even say something like that. Was he drunk when he wrote that?"

Harsh? Possibly. People, these are athletes. They play a sport. Some make a living at it. This does not make them heroes, role models, or infallible. It also does not give us the right to judge them as a human being if they make one mistake under pressure. Besides, in the end it's JUST a game. If it decided the fate of the universe, I can understand being upset. But what, it means the USA doesn't get a gold phallic symbol?

Sports analysts, get over yourselves. Play a sport, and then let your co-workers rip you apart like you rip these guys apart. Then I'll start to respect you.