Arrest Warrant Issued for 9 Year Old Boy in Post Falls, ID For Failure to Appear in Court after Stealing Pack of Gum

9 year old gum stealing boy public enemy #1 in Post Falls, Idaho …

A 9 year old boy in Post Falls, Idaho was arrested for failure to appear in court for a second time. The original offense that the 9 year old was charged with, stealing a pack of gum. That is correct folks, a pack of frigging gum. Are you telling me that we are wasting the police and courts time with offenses like stealing a single pack of gum? UNREAL. So in 2015, pot is legal but stealing gum that cost less than a $1 gets you a court date? According to reports, the child did not show for court because his family had no way to get him to the courthouse. How is a 9 year old boy held responsible for not being able to get to Court? Maybe he should have stole a car and drove? The child is currently in the Juvenile Detention Center where he will soon stand before a judge. Really, you have a 9 year old in a Juvenile Detention Center because of this with all the risks that are prevalent being in Juvy?

Are you telling me that the legal system could not have found a better way to handle this situation? Three 4th grade girls had no charges filed against them in New York after plotting to kill their teacher because no one got hurt, yet theft of less than $1 gets this poor 9 yer old boy time in a Juvenile Detention Center. Head shaking.

Post Falls Chief of Police Scott Haug says he was very surprised when an arrest warrant landed on his desk earlier this week. The warrant was for a “failure to appear,” not uncommon. But the perpetrator was a nine year old boy.

Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh, who issued the arrest warrant, was not able to comment because the case involves someone younger than 18 years old. However, Haug says the warrant was issued because it was the second time the 9 year old missed his day in court.

What was the original charge? Stealing a pack of gum.

Haug says this is the first time in his 30 years in law enforcement that he’s ever seen an arrest warrant issued for someone as young as nine.