Colt Elementary students decide Goldilocks' fate in Teen Court
Contributed/Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo, as Officer E.I.E.I.O MacDonald, testifies during a mock session of Teen Court last month, in which Colt Elementary students decided on the fate of Goldilocks.
By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
Colt Elementary fourth and fifth grade students decided the fate of Goldilocks for her crime of “Criminal Mischief with Damages” at a mock trial at Marble Falls Teen Court last month. (Last year, members of the C3--Colt Character Crew--threw the virtual book at the Big Bad Wolf for speeding.)
C3 students, called Master Leaders, do community service projects and leadership development exercises such as the mock trial.
Goldilocks, played by Anne Little, faced a jury of her peers to decide the amount of community service hours and jury terms for breaking into the home of Papa, Mama and Baby Bear. The defendant, Goldilocks, was caught “red handed” inside the Bear Home, breaking porridge bowls, chair legs and a small bed.
“Clearly, the defendant was guilty, but what amount of punishment was necessary to ensure she never would enter a residence uninvited, which is against our laws?” asked Teresa Miller, juvenile case manager with the municipal court in Marble Falls. “It was a learning experience of a lifetime for students.”
Students from both the prosecution and defense teams agreed the outcome was a tie, with Goldilocks sentenced to 35 (out of a possible 50) community service hours and tree jury terms.
Students Caleb Allen, Chase Liscum and Maia Pacini presented the evidence for the State of Texas including testimony from Officer E.I.E.I.O. MacDonald (Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo) and Papa Bear (Frank Reilly, Granite Shoals municipal court judge.)
Countering these facts was the Defense Team of Ben Syperda, Caden King and Austin Pratt, who presented Goldilocks as a confused, scared child lost in the woods just looking for help. Finding the home unlocked, she went inside for assistance only to accidentally break items. Students, with the help of their high school mentors, spent about 45 minutes constructing supporting arguments.
Students’ placement at either the prosecution or defense tables was not random.
After watching interviews, Miller and Christina DeLoach, Colt Elementary counselor and C3 founder and faculty adviser, decided which roles would be beneficial for students.
“They fell right into their roles. I think their hearts are predisposed to one side or the other, even if they don’t know it about themselves yet.” DeLoach said.
For more on the story, see The Highlander on Tuesday, March 22.
