Mom gets 6-month suspended sentence for letting 5-year-old walk to the pond • Hacker News Board

Re: Mom gets 6-month suspended sentence for letting 5-year-old walk to the pond

#311

Post by margalabargala » Mon, Sep 07, 2026, 5:09 AM UTC

casey2 wrote: post #299

Parenting "pros" don't break the law. If everyone did this we'd have similar number of drownings and vehicular homicide as we did in the 60s about 4000->1000. Argue the law all you want, just don't break it or try to rationalize it after breaking it. The title is misleading, she was sentenced for neglect, not for "allowing" her child to do something. She told him to go to the pond unsupervised putting him at substant…

> She told him to go to the pond unsupervised putting him at substantial unnecessary unreasonable risk

This is your opinion. Presenting it as fact creates more problems.

Re: Mom gets 6-month suspended sentence for letting 5-year-old walk to the pond

#312

Post by Markoff » Mon, Sep 07, 2026, 9:46 AM UTC

marcocampos wrote: post #139

I started walking to school alone once I started 1st grade (at around age 7) and did it for about 5 years until my parents moved our family to a place outside of town where it was impractical to do so. I just checked Google Maps to be sure and it is about a 1.2Km / 0.75 miles, so a short walk for either an adult or a 7-year old. A few months ago I had a heated argument with my father, stepmother and wife because I (h…

> too many cars

they are probably right and I can certainly bet my money there are way way more cars in small EU country than there were 30 years ago (assuming you had her at least at 30, if later, then the difference will be even starker)

my kids school is ~1.1km walk, son is walking to/from school by himself maybe from 3rd grade (8.5yo) with classmate(s), I still walk my 4th grade (8yo) daugher to school in the morning (unreliable/inconsistent slow classmate living nearby), at least I get some exercise working from home (if I didnt have time to walk them and help them with backpacks I would probably let them go by themselves earlier)

the main reason I still walk her is crossing the road, because I consider Prague roads dangerous even for adult pedestrian, let alone for kid, too many crazies driving here cars

other big reason is heavy backpack when they have to lug tons of books/workbooks

on the way back they go home either with classmates or together already for years, used to pick them up only in 1st and maybe 2nd grade

Re: Mom gets 6-month suspended sentence for letting 5-year-old walk to the pond

#313

Post by Simulacra » Mon, Sep 07, 2026, 1:13 PM UTC

jawns wrote: post #207

I'm no lawyer, but I can't see how the judge is able to square this with a plain reading of the law. Here is the Virginia code on contributing to the delinquency of a minor: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter5/secti... The only portion that is even remotely relevant is: > (b) renders a child delinquent, in need of services, in need of supervision, or abused or neglected as defined in § 16.1-228; Ho…

It's not impossible for a judge to rule based on public opinion.

Re: Mom gets 6-month suspended sentence for letting 5-year-old walk to the pond

#314

Post by Simulacra » Mon, Sep 07, 2026, 1:14 PM UTC

marticode wrote: post #62

It blows my mind that a bunch of adults, prosecutors, CPS employees, etc all decided the fair, reasonable and best thing to do was prosecute and punish this mother.

Sometimes the government feels like it needs to make an example. And once the government decides something like this, they can't back down, so they have to march forward. No matter how bad it looks.