Posted by bena (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A very good decision by the judge. It does seem strange though that the Virginia Pilot has the name of this thug and the SNH does not. Mr. Golden's name should be publicized all over the newpapers for all to see. This punk put many lives at risk, never thinking what the outcome would be and he deserves no pity from anyone as far as I am concerned. To top it off, he supposedly constructed a gang sign on the door of his pod at the detention home. He should be thrown into an adult jail and given a taste of the real life of a criminal. Our taxes are probably paying for his attorney and there is not a snowball chance in he-- that any restitution can or will be made to these families or to the city for the damage to the fire truck. I have zero tolerance for this type of crime and feel he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

YES!! While I have no immediate ties to this individual, I do feel for him. However, on the other hand I am very happy that the judge saw fit to try him as an adult. Too many young people who commit crimes, serious ones, are given a "slap" on the wrist, their behaviour attributed to their "youth". What then happens when that "youth" is 24 or 25 years old committing crimes for the last 10 or so years with no consequense? We should be more diligent in teaching that there is CONSEQUENSE for your actions...if you can't do the time, don't do the crime. Hopfully he will go to trial & the good citizens of Suffolk will send a message..."we're not gonna take it anymore!!"

Posted by omg (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is my thought....where has he grown up? What involvement has his parents had in his life? He is only 15 in a gang, lighting blankets in a old house on fire, not sure if he is a drop out or not but I have heard he was. I feel like the citizens also need to look at these things as well. My kids have turned out to be good citizens because I have been there all the way teaching them how to be good citizens, teaching them right from wrong, checking up on them when they say they are going to be at booger noses house I will check up on them to make sure that is where they are. When they are saying they are spending the night with butt face I call the parent at that home to make sure its okay and to make sure they know my childs rules. Even though my daughter drives I still meet the parents and see where my child is going to sleep for the evening. If I'm not comfortable they don't sleep there.

Most of these kids don't have this in their lives from their parents. The people who show them attention are the people who they will call family. Their friends, the gang members giving them money because they have none and no one to turn to to get it other than the gang banger who is selling drugs and guns for his money. Not long from there is when these kids turn bad. They become gang members, drug sellers, gun sellers, they start stealing and so on to get what their parents do not provide them with. Its very sad and it happens everyday right here in our city. Sometimes its just not the fault of these kids and they just need the right person to put them in the right place with the right people.

This kid I believe did not mean to burn down these three houses and certainly I don't believe he meant to hurt anyone. I think he started something that go out of hand and now he needs someone to help him.

When I say help him I don't mean an attorney to get him off I mean some real help no matter where he ends up. he needs some mental help and I can bet he needs some real family who will support him and show some interest in his life.

I feel for everyone involved.

Posted by bena (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree that the citizens of Suffolk should help him..we should make sure we have district attorneys and judges that give the max in cases such as this. Frankly I do not care where his parents were or what the gangs promised him. How can he not know that lighting a blanket in a house would not result in burning down the house and endangering peoples lives? If he is this dumb then he needs to be put in an institution for the rest of his life. My friend's child was one of those firefighters that ran into this fire to save lives and what respect and consideration are these individuals given. I agree that thugs such as Mr. Golden should be put in the right place by the right people so they can get help. The right people is the jury and the right place is prison and his cohorts in jail can give him the attention and the help that he so greatly craves.

Posted by byrd4all (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where is the innocent until proven guilty saying here. you all have trialed and convicted this child. I feel for anyone who was affected but let the judge find him guilty before yall convict him.

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Did you feel the same way with M.Vick? Lets see a juvenile judge made the call on being tried as an adult. Clearly he sees and understands this kid has some serious issues. 11 people lost their homes. 4 of our finest are injured, Equipment is damaged because this CHILD cannot understand right from wrong. Iam not buying on that. As byrd4all said its the judges call.In the court of public opinion I have stated my reasoning. My bet is that this will be a trial by judge and not by his adult peers. I would think that if his peers were all juveniles who know right from wrong, they would vote guilty too.

Posted by sandra (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well since you guys like reading did you know that 1. This kid has NEVER been in trouble before.2.He was not alone & the so called friends he was with may be....ARE leaving out alot of details like which one really set the fire. 3.His shirt was used to try to put out the fire after it was started by ONE of the boys. Who has access to whats going on in detention anyway to know what he put on the door there and isnt that a crime in itself to mark gang signs? So why is there no charge brought for that, I mean if you guys know about it should'nt the security or whatever they have in the center know.I think too much of I heard this and I heard that is going on with more adults commenting on this blog than it its in the elementary and middle schools.Oh and by the way no need to question me because I don't have time to go back and forth with any of you school minded gossipers. Did you take the time to say a prayer for this child,the victims,and everyone's family or you rather wait on the morning paper and post a comment each time some action hits Surprising Suffolk. Go wash some dishes or help a old lady cross the street especially you OD. You probably get on your own nerves so much thats why you are always on this comment section cause you're sick of hearing yourself so you come on this section to get a respond from someone. I know where ever you retired from your co-workers were MORE THAN HAPPY YOU LEFT AND TOOK YOUR OPINIONS WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you Sandra for your kind words and insight. Its very enlightening. Tolerance isnt one of your better traits is it.? Knowledge isnt either. Yes Sandra many come in here and comment on many topics. it is done as to allow diaglog, debate and opinion. Again you have problems with ones opinion and if it rubs you wrong, you chose to attack the messenger, Its's the liberal way.One other thing while you are still in earshot and will be reading this again. School minded types you say. Recess is over. We who what one may call regulars, we ALL tend to play nice with each other the majority of the time however sometimes there is a fight. When that happens, no one comes into the sandbox and kicks sand on another playmate and then runs away.

Posted by steinertc (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LIke a said before... Where were the parents. The parents should also be charged and do half the time the kid does. Then maybe more parents would be involved.

Posted by bena (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I raised my hand so I do have the right to speak now. Thank you Sandra for adknowledging me and my classmate OD. If you read the Virginia Pilot you would clearly see that it was printed for all the world to read that this CHILD defaced his door at detention. If memory serves me right Ted Bundy was an ideal citizen all the while murdering dozens of girls. The friends of "Baby Thug" left the building and how do you know that the fire was started before they left. Oh yea he said so; well that is good enough for me (NOT)! His shirt was burned trying to put out the fire..Well there is some ocean front property in Whaleyville that I would like to sell you. The parents should be tried as well this I do agree on and if "BABY THUG" is given 25 years then MOM THUG should be given 12 years and DADDY THUG 12 years. We citizens should not have to shower this criminal with love and affection and whether or not you want to believe this, it does not take a village to raise a child. Again in this case, the city and state need to follow the money and if these parents or parent received any type of assistance they need to have to pay it back because it is granted to be used to the benefit of the child and evidently this one missed the bank. We are not talking about a 4-5 year old playing with matches. He was having himself a birthday party drinking with his cronies..Well his next birthday should be celebrated behind bars with all of his new friends! OD what did you bring for lunch? Want to switch bags...

Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I enjoy reading these posts very much. I may or may not agree with them but they are OPINIONS and we are all entitled to ours. Mine is, as I said previously, I feel for him, however, he did wrong...he & his "friends". They must, in my opinion, pay the price. Too many of our youth get a slap on the wrist & are given ridiculous sentances. He caused a fire that burned down 3 houses, injured firefighters, & destroyed property. Thank God no one was killed. Suppose the fire had been larger & burned more houses down or even killed someone...what then? probation for him? Trial as an adult, that's my opinion.

Posted by am (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

May I enter the sandbox now? Thank you, Sandra for your insights. I hope that you have taken all of your knowledge to the appropriate authorities so that they may investigate these allegations. Regarding the idea that it isn't a crime to mark gang signs, defacing someone elses property is a crime. Given that the taxpayers paid for the jail, he defaced "our" property. I, for one, did not give my approval for the marking. And Sandra, maybe you would be willing to open your home and raise this kid as you own. I am thankful that no one was killed when this happened...property can be replaced, but lives cannot. However, a strong message needs to be sent that you cannot commit crimes and just walk away scot free or with a few months in "baby jail."

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I got me a peanut butter and jelly SAMWICH. I dont think you will want it.When am got into the sandbox she got sand on my samwich..I need to wipe it off first.

Posted by byrd4all (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yall out there talking about the parents should get time too is crazy in this situation. This is a 15 year old boy like someone said not a 5 or 6 year older. If the judge convict him of the crime then he should do the time not the parents, parents do there best to raise their children and not only bad kids but good kids have skeletons in there closet as well. A parent have to work to support the children and not only welfare children get in trouble but also children raised in the suburban areas to. I dont feel a 15 year old child have to be watched 24 hours a day if so more people will be getting on welfare because it leaves on time to work. So i dont feel you can blaim the parents. This didn't happen 12 1 or 2 in the morning this happened during a time that a 15 year old child is out playing with his friends. My prayers goes out the the firefighters who were hurt as well as the people who lost there home which included the parents of this child. I dont see any wrong doing by the parents in this situation can someone point it out to me. LET THE JUDGE DO HIS JOB THATS WHAT HE GET PAID FOR.

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey if a mother can allow her son to grow to over 400 lbs, its called child abuse. I dont see much difference here. I understand the situation when it come to supervision. Many call these kids latch key kids. This is where my comment on knowing right from wrong comes from. He is 15

Posted by bena (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PB&J is great but with sand. No thanks I will just eat my SPAM sandwich and be satisfied. AM will get time out for throwing sand. This criminal needs to be sent to big boys jail end of story.....

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We havent heard from TKO lately, hope he alright. I tell you what. Lets invite him to also play in the sandbox as well. Once he gets in I will use some duct tape,tape a piece of baloney to his forehead and then see if we can get a pit bull to play as well too. <JK>

Posted by bena (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Too cute oh great one. I will save some of my SPAM..Paging TKO, paging TKO...

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yours and my popularity with him fell faster than Helen Thomas's mammeries

Posted by thinkingaloud (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Never much cared for sand boxes (we were told as children that you could get ringworms in there), but I'd like to throw in my 2 cents worth. As a parent of a child who went down the wrong path 10 years ago, I will say that while I certainly in retrospect could have done some things differently, I was shocked when my son got in trouble. He attended church, did fairly well in school, hung around children whose family I had "checked out", etc. The crime he commited was so outside the scope of our lifestyle and the family life he was living, that I still have trouble understanding what happened. The guilt I feel is related to when he was younger, or how I reacted (or overreacted) when he did misstep, etc. The judge more than threw the book at him and I go back and forth on feeling that it was deserved, or that it was overkill.
Not knowing the full background of this young man, I can only say that I feel for the victims, his parents, and the young man - in that order. Hopefully he will get a good judge who will weigh all the factors thoroughly and ascertain this young man's potential for the future and punish him accordingly.
And that's all I have to say about that.

Posted by am (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey bena and OD, re-read. I indicated that "a message needs to be sent that you CANNOT commit crimes and walk away scot free or with baby jail time." I want him tried as an adult (and his buddies as well) and let them go to the big house! Bubba awaits! Sandra was using the "poor baby" mode, and she feels that way, she can offer the (alleged since he has not been convicted) arsonist a place in her house. I see way too many children younger than this kid with plenty of street (not sandbox) smarts. They know EXACTLY what they are doing because they expect to be tried as juveniles. It is about time the city stepped up and put their cards on the table.

Posted by OD (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I knew what you were saying am. I will say this thinkingaloud has some very hard felt comments and its understandable regarding her reaction to overkill and or her guilt. There in my opinion are kids that just dont know better or care, too many of them are definat of the parent or parents and the law.I saw this when on the PD and I see it today as a pvt citizen.Times have changed, kids have changed because of the breakdown in society. Back in my day and bena knows well of my and others pranks. Climbing on the roof of Leggetts dept store and throwing eggs at the christmas parade. Swimming in Lake Meade, Drinking a cpl of PBR's at Coppolas or down at the old Richs drive in. Crashing a dance at John Yeates H.S. getting into a fight (with no weapons) and having to go back to the school where they held a special gathering for the entire school where we all had to go and apologize to the school. Stealing 33 newspapers over in Chesapeak so we all could read the sports section containing the article where SHS won another state Tennis Championship. I was 17 the other 4 guys were 16 or 17 and Judge Kadmus threatend my lawyer Duke Hunter that he was charging me as an adult. but he didnt. Kind of funny years later I ended up again in front of the old warhorse as a police officer. After I gave testimony he pushed his mike to the side and said dont I know you? I said yes sir and reminded him of the first time we met. His comments were to me, glad to see you on this side of the law son.It is as if it was only yesterday. Marion Bryant, Bobby Bryant and most of all Vance Saunders always knew who was capable of doing in what we called mischief. Maybe we werent innocents but we knew right from wrong. We were all fortunate to know what we could do and what not to do.I remeber going and pulling my juvie pink card from the file within the first week of being on the PD, what a hoot! it was then and it is still today. Who would have thought that myself and three others would go into law enforcement, one of our partners in crime that night at JY H.S. would end up teaching there. Another ended up pulling 5 tours in Nam and retired from the state police as a pilot not to long ago I didnt mean to go off subject but times have changed, kids have changed and so has society.bena knows this and knows what and whom I am speaking of. Our D.A. isnt as clean as he wants you to think either lol My point is we ALL knew right from wrong
By the way you owe me a PB&J am....

Posted by KNRMCO (anonymous) on July 30, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

yes, times have chd'g...things kids do today I never would have dreamed of doing. But I had 2 parents at home (whom I respected) and I would never have thought of disgracing them. I didn't leave home until I married and that was when I was 26 yrs old!!!. KIDS nowadays leave home as soon as they can, get themselves into a mess & then expect mommy and/or daddy to clean it up for them. I was by no means an angel, but I knew right from wrong and what the "limit" was. Kids nowadays just don't care; they want what you & I worked 30 yrs or all our life for and they want it NOW! Also like you said AM, they know what they are doing & they are going to be tried as juveniles. I say throw em in jail & let them do their time. I'm tired of bleeding liberals, I'm tired of everyone being "politically correct". It's time to take the gloves off!