WHERE ARE THE PARENTS II:
Sheriff Tim Daugherty responds

Recently, The Carolina Scoop ran a "What's on your mind?" from Iron Station resident Charles Akers in response to my editorial on "where are the parents."

Since the writing of the editorial last week, there have been several more crimes reported in Lincoln County, with teenagers listed as suspects.

One of the folks that responded to Mr. Akers letter was Lincoln County Sheriff Tim Daugherty. I sat down with the Sheriff on Tuesday to discuss Mr. Akers' letter.

Here's one comment that got the Sheriff's atention from Mr. Akers' letter:

"....Modern law enforcement just looks the other way in many cases...."

"What bothers me is that Mr. Akers didn't talk about anything specific," said Daugherty. "If Mr. Akers has something specific, he needs to come forward."

The comment also illicited this response from Sheriff Daugherty.

"I can't recall when we've ever turned our heads the other way."

Surely if the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office -- or the Lincolnton Police -- were "looking the other way," my readers would see the story first. I'm not afraid to call anyone on the carpet if the person does something to deserve being called on the carpet.

Daugherty said where things start to break down is when the cases go from the deputies to the court system.

"We collect evidence and present the probable cause for the charges in whatever case we deal with," said Daugherty. "When it gets to court, sometimes the charges are dropped. It's a small percentage of cases where that happens."

Akers also pointed out in his email to The Carolina Scoop that firearms laws do hold parents accountable for firearm crime involving teens. However, how many of those crimes have happened in Lincoln County.

Only one I can think of. The young people in Vale who shot up cars and pets.

The rest of the crimes involve breaking and enterings into homes and vehicles and other petty crimes.

The bottom line is, the parents have to be held responsible for what their teenagers do.

Sheriff Daugherty agrees and he made a good point.

In some crimes -- like the Vale incidents -- there are multiple victims.

"One of the victims may choose not to prosecute, so they have to sign a waiver of prosecution," said Daugherty. "Again, there is a small percentage of victims that choose not to prosecute."

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Akers for writing in to The Carolina Scoop. My editorial, coupled with his letter, got a good response from our county's top cop.

If you'd like to send a letter, simply email it to mayhew.jon@gmail.com.Please include a telephone number so we can verify the submissions.