Page 4 - First Morris News Today

>> one of the things i know is the probation department is recommending that you stay locked up. we have our work cut out for us. the difficult challenge as a public defender for a child is distinguishing between whats in the childs best interests and what the child wants because in every case, every child wants to get out of here but theres no question that as morriss advocate that i want him to go home and my preference is that the children should be home with their parents supposed to detaine...

There would be a conflict. so that worries me hes going to put himself in a situation thats going to become dangerous for him. so for all of those reasons today, the court order that he be placed at campana academy and ill order that his family participate in family counseling along with him so that he can return home sooner than later. >> all right. >> this hearings adjourned. thank you. >> say good-bye to your parents. >> bye. >> its for the best. i love you, too. ill see you. well see you the...

Im try to keep you staying here so we can work something out here. >> its not going to work, sir. >> somethings going to work. youre not going to run around like a chicken with your head cut off. >> probation officer gordon fleming is convinced morris requires for time in the care of the state. his attorney will fight to see that morris gets what he wants, to be released home but it is judge mary beth ben na venturea who gets to decide his faith. >> i think i understand your testimony to be beca...

Were out smoking marijuana on the front importantly of the cloisters apartment complex. >> are you high right now the? were you smoking marijuana today? >> no. >> he tells me he wasnt moek smoking. >> there was about seven of them out there. >> im just going to have the nurse look at him real quick to determine that hes not under the influence. they found him today because he was smoking marijuana with his friends and they ran all their names at first morris was lying about his identity because ...

>> all i would say, judge, is that being locked up, sitting here does something. i believe it has for morris. i would suggest that we move in increments. we move in increments from where he was was no real restrictions just you need to do what were telling you to do to now were going to put a bracelet around your ankle before we jump to the most severe conclusion, the recommendation he be shipped away from his family and brothers and sisters. i would just ask that the court give some credence to...

Has tended to befriend some young men, one for instance who was shot the other day in a drive by shooting. young people hes been associating with. i believe its safer for him to be here to work with morris. >> now its an issue of him being safe? >> thats one of the issues yes. >> okay. thats all il have, judge. >> anything else? >> mr. fleming, the main issue is you fear that morris wont be present for future hearings? >> yes. >> and thats based on his past behavior. >> yes, maam it, absolutely....

Trying to do better. i know i got a problem. if you send me home and trust me, im going to show you -- >> morris, you remember some time back, we went through a detention hearing where you talked about your background, your history and what you wanted to have happen, correct. >> yes. >> were not going to go through all of that for todays hearing. all i want to know is what youve learned since youve been locked up. >> since ive been detained i learned how to control my anger. i would like to go h...

>> want to say anything to your mother? >> i see you at 1:30. >> i. >> its okay. ill see you at 1:30, all right? youre going to be all right. ill be here all day every day. i love. >> i love you too. >> hang in there. >> i certainly understand why the court did what it did. theres not a solid support structure in place where this mother says im going to take care of this problem. while i certainly was advocating for him to go home and would have liked to have seen that, i understand the courts d...

His attorney will fight to see that morris gets what he wants, to be released home but it is judge mary beth ben na venturea who gets to decide his faith. >> i think i understand your testimony to be because morris is not as available or participating with these services to the extent that you think appropriate, that he should just remain locked up? >> well, im basing that upon him running away from home. his mother not knowing where he is. and she was having a hard time controlling him and reas...

>> could i have a brief minute with my client. >> be honest. im telling. shes going to have all the records from your school. listen to the question and answer it honestly. dont make it worse. >> anything else? >> no, judge. >> all right. >> judge, i would call morriss mother angel to the stand, if the court were to decide that morris need not be locked up any longer, would you be willing to have him released to your custody? >> im always willing. but i just wonder if thats whats best for him. >...