Youth in drug bust to return to Mexico
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
A 16-year-old youth who was arrested on Interstate 71 in December with cash and 704 parceled doses of heroin in his car is headed home to Mexico, following a hearing in Madison County Juvenile Court on Monday.
The boy, who is slightly built and appears younger than 16, was originally charged with trafficking heroin. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to a reduced felony charge as part of an arrangement with the county prosecutor’s office. The conviction could have sent the teen to the Ohio Department of Youth Services until age 21.
“I will leave it up to you and God,” the boy told Judge Glenn Hamilton through an interpreter.
Hamilton credited the boy with time served in the local juvenile detention facility and agreed to his release to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation.
The judge also ordered the sheriff to confiscate the 2003 Honda Accord the boy was driving at his arrest, as well as $485 in cash found in the vehicle.
Prior to sentencing, defense attorney Thomas Arrington told Hamilton his client is from southwest Mexico and was lured into the heroin trade by false promises.
“He is extremely frightened,” Arrington said.
Senior drug dealers told the boy he could earn significant dollars with little risk of punishment by distributing the foil-wrapped balls of heroin in the United States. The boy didn’t understand what was inside the balls.
“He knew it was illegal,” Arrington said. “But he was told he would not go to prison if arrested.”
Since arriving in the Columbus area, the boy dispatched “large amounts of money” to his family in Mexico. He now plans to complete high school and seek a career in the military or law enforcement south of the border, Arrington said.
“He has no desire to come back to the U.S.,” the attorney added.
The boy cried at Monday’s hearing, as did some court staff members who consider him a victim of human trafficking.
He hugged his arresting officer, Lt. Eric Semler, and thanked Arrington for speaking on his behalf.
In exchange, Arrington headed to London’s McDonald’s restaurant to procure a Big Mac meal for his client. Big Macs are a favorite of the young felon, Semler said.
Haha forreal I get prison time which I deserved for my crimes committed but this kid gets people in the courthouse crying and a free big mac but we elect them we have to change it so lets all link up get these fools out of there….stop complaining and lets take care of this issue….he is like every 16 yr old boy he seen the money…shoes cars clothes he wanted to sell that stuff that kid fooled the fools…..ha
Way to go London. All these white/black kids get caught and get years in prison. One 16 year old Mexican gets caught with more than 100 grams and gets a free BigMac and a drive back home to Mexico. Why is this Lt. Semler? If you was to ask me this is a great waste of tax payer money for shatty detective work. Cmon when are we going to see this???
Het why dont we rename the Court House to the Corrupt house
Years ago…..my son got more from Hamilton for running a stop sign !!!! Go figure !!!!!!
I spent a month in Mexico City…..these kids are way beyound their years……this kid basically fooled our small town attorneys and judge……don’t cry for this kid London……he knew what he was doing……London did not !!!!
Seriously????? This kid gets to go free???? Don’t you realize that the dealers in London will now let kids do business for them? And, ask for Lt. Eric Semler if they get caught because he will take you under his wing and buy you your favorite food to eat. Don’t forget to cry and act scared….OMG….
he was right, he is not getting jail time
Hey Every one read about the poor ole Jamican he sold a litte POT and is in Jail but the Mexican sold Heroin got a big mac and free ticket home AMAIZING
I’ve been a bad boy…a very bad boy. Now get me my Big Mac before I cry. On second thought, could I just have some heroin?
What a heart warming story!
Attorney: “But he was told he would not go to prison if arrested.”
Judge: Well if that’s what they said, then I guess you’re free to go…
What the hell are these people we elect thinking. This boy and his attorney just duped the judge and prosecutor big time. He will be right back in the US distributing drugs only with the knowledge of how NOT TO get caught the next time. I think it is time we take these old out of touch judges and prosecutors out of their elected seats and get some young blood in there who can handle the new breed of drug dealers that are emerging. The 70′s are gone and those old 70′s way of handling first time offenders are way to antiquated.
Hey Mike we should run for office. we sure can see what fools are doing we couud at least put them where they belong IN JAIL. Jim Sabin and Dep Semlier need to be reprimaned for this CRAZY STUFF and this STUPID JUDGE.
He is a drug dealer and a good liar what about the lives he ruined they are still ruined and he gets a big mac way to go Madison County Im going to start selling drugs and when I get caught I will play dumb and ask for a big mac and get to go home if you can do it for him you can do it for all the tax payiing folks of Stupid County USA