EDITORIAL: Is Lady Justice really blind in Houston County

To have a 14-year-old bring a loaded weapon to Huntington Middle School in Warner Robins is, fortunately, very unusual, but to have all of the charges dropped against the minor if he moved out of state is not only unusual, it stinks to high heaven. Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton is upset that somewhere along the judicial line a deal was struck and personal responsibility thrown out of the window.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Venita McCoy isn’t talking, neither is the Chief Assistant District Attorney Erikka Williams. The teen’s attorney is keeping his mouth shut, too. Because the teen had no previous record, he was released to his parents. Amazing.

Though in a different county, there was a higher level of justice in Bibb County when a group of teens ran through a Wal-Mart, without weapons, and did $2,000 in damage. Those teens were initially charged with rioting, criminal damage to property in the second degree and criminal street gang activity. The first one arrested had a $3,700 bond set. The street gang charges were later dropped. Is justice that blind, or are the scales in Houston County fixed for a privileged few? Since the people handling the case won’t talk, it’s up to their boss, District Attorney George Hartwig to provide answers.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 9:35 PM with the headline "EDITORIAL: Is Lady Justice really blind in Houston County ."