Page 8 - First Morris News Today

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 reasoning with him he has failed a couple of drug tests. morris has told me on several occasions ...

>> come on out. >> hey, morris, how are you? down ruck, ill be your lawyer for today. >> 17-year-old morris is locked up for possession of marijuana and more importantly for failing to appear at a former courtç attorney. he meets with his court appointed attorney. >> today the court wants to hear a little bit about what happened and make a decision whether or not to release you today. what do you want to have happen. >> i want to get released. >> okay. did you test positive for marijuana when ...

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 thata morris wont e present for future hearings? >> yes. >> and thats based on his past behavior. >> yes, maam it, absolutely. >> no further questions, judge. >> morris when you didnt co...

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 he knew he had a warrant. >> you didnt take any drugs? >> had p had you. >> you why are your eyes like that? >> liking what? >> all slanty and red...

>> all right. mr. republic? >> judge, i would call morriss mother angel to the stand, please foo 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. >> well, do you think its best to keep him locked up? >> here, no, i dont. but as far as what helps, i know that there is a problem and he does not need some help. >> does he recognize theres a problem...

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 detained in a detention center. >> you know you had a court hearing, didnt even come? i was scared. they said i was going two years in placement. >> so you run away. im not going to recommend tau g...

Determine what is best for him. today he goes back before the judge to learn his fate. >> keep your hands behind your back. >> the judge might send me to placement. or she probably might give me house arrest. if i was talking to the judge right now, i would tell her im trying to do better. i know ive got a problem. if you send me home and trust me, im going to show you i can work my problem out with my whole family. >> morris, you remember sometime back we went through a detention hearing where ...

All right? 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 interest, and what the child wants. because in every case, every child wants to get out of here. but theres no question that as morris advocate that i want him to go home. and my preference is that children should be home with their parents. as opposed to, you know, detained at a detention center. >> you know you had a court hearing and you didnt...

Im trying to change my life. i dont want to be angry. ive got a problem. i admit it. >> whats your problem? >> i have an anger problem. >> thats all i have, judge. >> miss guzek, anything? >> morris, you said you couldnt go to your therapy appointments because the therapist came when you were sleeping. she came too early or he came too early. what part did your smoking marijuana play into that? >> i dont smoke in the morning time. >> when do you smoke? >> to tell you the truth probably around in...

>> well go to court, talk to the judge, let her know how youve been doing, but shes going to make that final decision. all we can tell her is youve come home, and up until now how youve been doing. okay? and thats a good report. thats not a bad report. well go in there and see what she has to say. and well go from there. okay? all right. >> all right, ms. sarah. >> at todays hearing, rodrick and morris will learn if they get to go home with their parents or if they must remain detained in lake c...