ChewingGumGate: Mom Speaks Out

Natosha Thornhill, of Post Falls, is emotional after describing the scene as her 9-year-old son was shackled in a courtroom in the days following his arrest relating to stealing a pack of gum. (Coeur d’Alene Press photo: Shawn Gust)

Criminals, no matter how hardened or evil or prolific, have mothers. Some are more loving than others, but they all have them, or had them. In the case of a 9-year-old Post Falls boy who was detained by authorities for 22 hours for stealing some chewing gum, that mother is Natosha Thornhill. Thornhill, who is also the mother of six other kids, said Thursday that her son won’t benefit from the time at the Kootenai County Juvenile Detention Center. She said the boy has been taking the arrest and lock-up hard. He is charged with misdemeanor petit theft/ David Cole , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here .

Question: Should there be more punishment to the child at this point?