The Grinch, Scrooge and Jack Frost all put on the stand
KATHY KUNKEL/TIMES NEWS Seventh grade students at St. Jerome's Regional School, Tamaqua, took part in mock trials last week as part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program. Students were presented with three landmark cases and selected defense and prosecution teams to present the cases before District Judge Stephen Bayer. DARE instructors Michael Hobbs, Tamaqua Police, and Jason Lorah, West Penn Township Police, were observers only for the exercise.
The Grinch, Ebeneezer Scrooge and Jack Frost all found themselves in court last week in Tamaqua, as seventh grade students in the Tamaqua Middle School and St. Jerome's Regional School took part in mock trials as part of the DARE program. District Judge Stephen Bayer, who has an office in Tamaqua, presided over all of the court cases.
The students were given the basic facts of each case and were encouraged to develop their own lines of prosecution and defense. Each student had the opportunity to actively participate, either as an attorney, victim, suspect or witness. The scenarios presented to the judge were interesting, at the least.
Jack Frost stood accused of attempted theft from Santa's toy factory, after Frosty the Snowman saw him inside the factory with toys in each hand. The Grinch was arrested for theft after Lou Who caught him trying to stuff a Christmas tree up the Who's chimney and noticing that presents and food were missing from the home. Scrooge failed to clear his sidewalk of ice and snow following a storm, in defiance of a town ordinance, resulting in an injury to a pedestrian.
At St. Jerome's, the defense prevailed in the case of Frost, who had apparently been doing Mrs. Claus a favor by inspecting the toys. The Grinch claimed to be a Christmas tree inspector, who was just recalling a defective item and was clueless as to what could have happened to the gifts and food. He was found guilty of trespassing. Scrooge, despite claiming no knowledge of the sidewalk clearing law and the rehabilitation of his character, was also found guilty. Ignorance of the law, according to Judge Bayer, is not a valid defense.
Students taking part in the event at St. Jerome's included: Nico Agosti, Dylan Baddick, James Bechtel, Christopher Chinnici, Joseph Damiano, Ryan Eickhoff, Matthew Karnish, James McKinley, Rachel Meier, Michael Ouly, Emily Pilla, Annette Ritzko, Connor Roberts, Bridgette Rossi, Esperanza Serrano and Benjamin Wiessner. The class is taught by Mrs. Alice Miller. DARE instructors are Tamaqua Officer Michael Hobbs and West Penn Patrolman Jason Lorah.
