GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A 16-year-old boy who helped toss a barrel with gasoline-diesel mix onto a bonfire, causing an explosion, apologized in court Tuesday, before being ordered to perform 40 hours of community service with burn victims as part of the case’s resolution.
State law prevents media outlets from identifying suspects in juvenile court cases.
Multiple people were injured when a partially filled drum of diesel and gasoline was tossed on to a fire at a home in the town of Maple Grove on Oct. 14, causing an explosion. At a previous hearing, prosecutors noted another suspect came up with the idea and only turned to this teen for help when the barrel was too heavy.
The 16-year-old was charged in Brown County juvenile court with two counts of first-degree reckless injury and one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Although the incident took place in Shawano County, juvenile charges are filed in the county where the suspect lives.
The parties entered into what’s known as a “consent decree,” allowing the court to impose sanctions but without a formal ruling finding the teen ‘delinquent’, which is the juvenile court version of a ‘guilty’ determination.
Mothers of two of the victims testified at a closed hearing.
One mother said her son was burned on nearly 40% of his body, has had three surgeries so far and may need another, and continues to have struggles with wounds on his legs.
“[My son] will be scarred for the rest of his life, both physically and emotionally,” she said before addressing the teen. “In my heart, I am trying to forgive you. I don’t believe sitting in jail will do you any good. The punishment I feel would be fitting for you would be to volunteer in a burn center that’s held every summer and listen to other kids’ stories on what happened to them. I feel you should have to attend a burn support meeting and listen to stories of other burn victims and listen to them live their pain and suffering that they have endured. And maybe you would be able to realize what your actions have caused to the kids.”
The second mother described all of the things she described as being robbed from her son, his family and the community due to the incident.
“You made a decision to assist with this senseless act that could have resulted in death. In a way, you were lucky. However, there should be some type of consequence to your ruthless act. We believe that you should be tried as an adult because you were adult enough to make this decision,” the mother said. “You should work at a burn center for free, to be able to hear the screams, and the burn parents, and to be able to feel that helplessness we did as parents, watching our son and so many others in so much pain.”
After the mothers and attorneys addressed the court, the teen apologized.
“I just wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I did not intend to harm anyone. But I helped do something dumb without thinking of what the consequences would be. I don’t think anyone knew what was going to happen. I hurt my friends, and I feel terrible for putting them and everyone through this. I have gone to see or spoken with most of the kids that were there. I did that long before I got charged. It gave me a chance to apologize and listen to them talk about how this affected them. They seemed to understand it was a mistake and forgave me. I am willing to do whatever is asked of me and do anything to make it right. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, and I’m sorry for everything,” he said.
The consent decree called for the 40 hours of community service, but Judge Tim Hinkfuss agreed with the parents and ordered that time be spent at a burn center or with burn victims. The teen will remain under supervision by the county for six months. He also must undergo alcohol abuse and other counseling.
While there have been requests for restitution to cover medical treatments, lost wages and other expenses, the judge did not make a specific ruling on that Tuesday. Defense attorney Nila Robinson noted that with the completion of Tuesday’s hearing, the teen and his family can work with their insurance company to process those claims and address that issue.
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Dept. said in November it also requested charges against two other people, but, so far, the Shawano County prosecutors have not filed any charges in the case. The Shawano County District Attorney’s office says the files are still being reviewed.
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