DeKalb County, GA – The mother of a violent 13-year-old is being charged in an effort to hold parents responsible for failing to hold their children responsible for skipping school to commit crimes.
A 13-year-old was arrested for stealing a Honda Pilot from a gas station on Jan. 5. Police discovered he was the same boy they were searching for who aided in a pawn shop break-in and stealing $9,000 worth of guns, according to the Palm Beach Post.
That same boy was also charged with arson and kidnapping within the past year.
The 13-year-old boy and an accomplice are accused of carjacking a vehicle that had a baby in it and dumping the baby on a sidewalk in front of a gas station, according to the Palm Beach Post.
“He just drops the baby off on the sidewalk and speeds off and we never see him again,” store clerk, Alex Robles, told WSB-TV when the carjacking took place in November.
Police are going to go after that boy’s mother for contributing to her child’s problems and charge her with educational neglect.
That boy has missed more than 30 days of school between August and December, which was the same time when all the crimes were committed.
“This kid is getting more and more violent,” DeKalb County Police Maj. K.D. Jackson told WSB-TV. “And mom, we’re actively looking for her.”
“She could not provide a valid reason as to why this kid was not going to school other than pointing the finger at other people,” Maj. Jackson told WSB-TV.
The police are willing to work with the parent, Maj. Jackson said.
“To help you become a citizen that’s going to act right, we’re going to help you. But if you want to continue to allow yourself, or your kid, we’re going to deal with you that way too,” Jackson said.
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