The Sheriff of Tehama County is encouraging changes in state law concerning punishment for juveniles. Dave Kain’s concerns are motivated by limitations in sentencing a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old recently found guilty of planning a bombing attack on Evergreen Middle School in Cottonwood. The attack was averted when an online gamer in another state alerted Tehama County authorities that one of the boys was boasting about the plan. Although both boys were convicted, their sentences were a fraction of what they would have been if they were a few years older. In a letter sent to the State Legislature, Sheriff Kain says that in the interests of public safety, he believes a criminal penalty should match the crime, regardless of the age of the perpetrator.
-Steve Gibson