RSSPersonal Accountability be Damned, Nevada Couple Blames Internet for Child Neglect. Also Mother taking Infant to Satan?
This story is just further proof that some people should just not be allowed to have 
children. Raising children is one of the hardest and most important responsibilities that one will ever take part in their life. This seemed not t be the case for 25 year old Michael Straw and 23 year old Iana Straw. Their greater responsibility was to play internet games like “Dungeons & Dragons”. The Nevada couple was sentenced to two counts each of child neglect and each face up to 12 years in prison. To bad we could not sentence then to never be able to have children, or a pet for that matter.
A couple who authorities say were so obsessed with the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.
The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, were severely malnourished and near death last month when doctors saw them after social workers took them to a hospital, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal. Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts each of child neglect. Each faces a maximum 12-year prison sentence. (Wash Post) Instead of taking personal accountability for their actions and the abuse of their children, the Straw’s blamed their children’s neglect on the internet.
Viloria said the Reno couple were too distracted by online video games, mainly the fantasy role-playing “Dungeons & Dragons” series, to give their children proper care. “They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games,” Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
UPDATE I: 29-year-old Shaunte Mitchell, Another Candidate for Losing 
Parental Privileges
29 year old Shaunte Mitchell left her 7 week old baby in the middle of the street and as a witness who called 911 stated, “she was taking the infant to Satan.” Can we ask for sterilization as an appropriate remedy so that no other innocent child need go through such abuse by this woman?
When officers found the woman, she did not respond to the questions from the officers and she did not have the infant. The woman was identified as 29-year-old Shaunte Mitchell of Lebanon. She was transported to Bethesda Arrow Springs for a medical and psychological evaluation.
The baby was found in the middle of the road on the center lane strips, but had no injuries. The infant is now in the care of Warren County Children Services.
Charges against Mitchell are being prepared and include child endangerment, disorderly conduct, and aggravated arson.
If you liked this post, you may also like these:
Comments
13 Responses to “Personal Accountability be Damned, Nevada Couple Blames Internet for Child Neglect. Also Mother taking Infant to Satan?”
Leave a Reply
Did they move here from aruba ???
“As we become more technologically advanced, there’s more distractions,” Killen said. “It’s easy for someone to get addicted to something and neglect their children. Whether it’s video games or meth, it’s a serious issue, and (we) need to become more aware of it.”
What absolute pathetic garbage! People don’t neglect their own infants because they are “addicted” to video games. They neglect their infants because they are insensitive, self-absorbed, narcissistic, spoiled brats concerned only for themselves and their own self-gratification! (and I didn’t even need a license to determine that).
And still, people do not believe there is such a thing as internet addiction. Just saw some psychologist on FOX a few weeks ago, and he said there was no such thing as internet addiction. Wonder if he was paid by the big search engine corporations. The sad part is that it seem so many people do want to take responsibility for ANYTHING they do that is bad. I’ll tell ya right now; if sexual abuse, child abuse, bullying, cheating, loneleness are excuses for everything, then I’d be the biggest criminal this nation has ever seen. Maybe its time we make couples apply to become parents. (I know; thats over the top)
Sterilization may be an appropriate punishment here.
R
[...] “They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games” [...]
I suppose they’d also say they were forced to gamble away their house and life’s savings in Las Vegas because they couldn’t tear themselves away from the roulette table, or whatever.
#3 this story is not proof of “Internet Addiction”, the story is only proof of people who are insensitive and self-absorbed. Anyone can be obsessed with anything and you can call it an “addiction” if you are looking to provide an excuse for irresponsible behavior – or you can call it was it is – irresponsible behavior
Katablog; its EXACTLY irresponsible behaviour. I saw on A&E on their ‘Intervention’ show, a story of a young man who was so addicted to video games that he played them 22 hours a day. He nearly destroyed his family with his video game addiction. I have to wonder – aren’t addiction and irresponsible behaviour the exact same thing? The outcome of such actions is still the same. Its like not being able to call people ‘poor’ or ‘poverty stricken’ no more. They are ‘disadvantaged’. The crippled(like me) are handicapped. Its all the same thing. I do not believe the choice of words is wrong – its all the same problem.
Just so y’all know; I am not offended by the word, ‘crippled’. I don’t use that term to describe some one else who is hurt, nor do I use it in conversation. I am just not offended by it. I want people to be comfortable when they see me and not be afraid to talk to me. OH! And I was poverty stricken once too! Poor is only offencive if one allows it to become an excuse for bad behaviour.
Check out their Myspace pages. I love hers she rants on what we are doing to our kids. These nuts should lose their kids forever. How much into online gaming can you be that you don’t hear your kids crying out in hunger.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=90738735
(his)
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=90487026
(hers)
I bet they made sure THEY had enough to eat and drink. If they were so addicted, how come they weren’t starving and dehydrated. Because they lef the computer to drink and feed themselves and CHOSE NOT to do the same for their babies.
You got it right, katablog. Excuses are excuses. I know people who play those online games- not only are they great parents but their kids play the same games right alongside them!
http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_198145543.html
A 13 year old kills his older brother over a video game – its an epidemic