Court Orders Prankster Teens to Post YouTube Apology
We've reported on some rather stupid things posted to YouTube, such as footage of people breaking the law then flaunting it online. Postings of beatings and theft are disturbingly common, and so, too, are "fire in the hole" videos, in which camcorder-armed teens with nothing better to do order drinks at fast-food drive-throughs, then throw them back through the window before speeding off (and then post the video on YouTube). Two Florida teens were recently caught doing said act, an, in an welcome twist, were required to post an apology video to YouTube as part of their sentence.
The unnamed teens threw drinks at Taco Bell worker Jessica Ceponis at a franchise location in Merritt Island, Florida. When Ceponis learned a video of the incident was posted online, she used MySpace to track down the perpetrators. After pretending to be their friends she figured out their identities, she called the police, and had the teens arrested.
The teens were each charged with two counts of battery and one count of criminal mischief, and, as punishment, were required to post the apology video (which they edited themselves). They are also serving 100 hours of community service, paying $30 cleaning fees to the restaurant, and personally writing apology letters to to Ceponis. Will this put a stop to these sorts of videos? Probably not, but we're pretty sure these two pranksters at least won't be doing it again. [Source: YouTube, via USA Today]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Tigi @ Jun 10th 2008 1:25PM
Gonna YouTube the crime? YouTube the "time." I LOVE IT! These guys think it's funny to drench a fast-food worker in soda while she's making $5 or $6 bucks/hour? I worked at McD's in college & the stuff you would have to put up with for $3.35/hour (minimum wage in 1985) was UNBELIEVABLE! Make them wear a sandwich sign that says "I think it's funny to throw drinks on minimum-wage workers" & make them walk around the restaurant. Shame on these kids! What kind of parents raise kids like this? 100 hours of community service? Restitution of $30 in cleaning fees? If I had pulled a stunt like this, I'd be WAY more scared of what my parents would do to me than any judge. I LOVE THIS PUNISHMENT!
Al @ Jun 11th 2008 11:22AM
Don't be so angry at life!!! Get one!
SM @ Jun 13th 2008 3:33PM
I agree with you -- make them wear a sign board -- now that's embarassing. I also feel they should have to clean and work in that Taco Bell -- see how they like it when they're treated poorly.
Debbie Morgan @ Jun 11th 2008 2:34AM
With all the beatings and thefts on YouTube, I can't understand why more people aren't defending themselves with non-lethal protection. A stun gun or pepper spray costs very little (stun guns can be under $20 and pepper sprays can cost as little as $12) so why wouldn't we carry it with us just in case. Lots of places carry it but my site has free shipping. Who know, you could be next.
James @ Jun 11th 2008 11:09AM
To Debbie Morgan,
First of all, your comments are totally inappropriate. Stun guns and pepper spray are illegal in most states. Just because you can buy them, it doesn't mean that they are legal to use. The use of these items have been proven to be counterproductive because they do nothing more than make the bad guy angry and more aggressive. Besides, when you use these weapons on someone, you will most probably be charged with battery yourself. Leave the use of weapons to the police. Could you imagine everyone walking around with a stun gun and pepper spray? We'd be peppersprayed because someone doesn't like the way we are looking at them, Stun gunned because we are standing too close to someone in a crowd....Scary indeed!
Brad @ Jun 11th 2008 11:24AM
Non-lethal hell, Im packing in 99% of the places I go. On the other hand, I bought my girlfriend a .38 revolver in hopes she would keep it in her car, well, its in my pocket or in the drawer at home 100% of the time. THANKFULLY, I took her to a recent gunshow and there a man was selling stunguns for around $60, this was something she could live with and carry at the hospital. I feel better, but not better than if she were packin a firearm as well.
Al @ Jun 11th 2008 11:24AM
You're fu*cked up... That's why this country is so ridiculous, because of people like you!
Lester @ Jun 11th 2008 12:35PM
Horrible suggestion. I agree with the other person who replied to you -- leave the weaponry to the police. Pepper spray can be used against you, also, just like any other weapon you carry for "self-defense." I'd rather not put myself in that position, thank you very much. And how can you say that pepper spray or one of those little hand-held shock thingees would be called for in this situation?! Ridiculous.
Brad @ Jun 11th 2008 11:29AM
And dont worry about morons like this "James" character, its bleeding heart liberals like this dumb bas-ard that should be on the receiving end of a beating or robbery!! Choose to let the police "protect" you and you will surely be rapped, beat, robbed, or murdered while still holding on 911 for someone to answer the phone!! PROTECT YOURSELF and let nature weed out the morons who choose to behave like sheep and believe someone will always be there to take care of them!!
jkiszonas @ Jun 11th 2008 1:51PM
Yeah, wait for the police to show up with weapons. Don't hold your breath. Anyone who is not willing to defend themselves and rely on others to do so is a sheep, and deserves what comes to them. Whether with lethal or non-lethal force.
Sarah @ Jun 11th 2008 1:55PM
James, Are you serious? Leave it up to the police? The law isn't in our favor. I ilve in Austin, TX and a NAKED man was shot to death outside of his home because he "came at" the cop. When asked why they didn't carry Stun guns they said it was "inhumane." Oh, so shooting a naked guy to death isn't inhuman, I forgot. They could have peppered sprayed him, but instead, he's dead. Tell me about letting the police handle things again. Recognize that sometimes you have to take the law into your own hands and if you are assulted you should be able to protect yourself in a way that won't kill someone, but disable them at that particular moment of attack. Hope a clothed man never comes at you because won't you be in a rut.
Debbie Morgan @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:16AM
James: I'm sorry to hear you are misinformed. Most states do allow stun guns and pepper spray. The only states that have outlawed them are Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. That's seven states out of 50 leaving the majority of the states agreeing that the average citizen has the Constitutional right to bear arms and respects that they are choosing a non-lethal weapon as opposed to one that will cause permanent damage. I'm not sure where you've gotten the "proof" that the use of these weapons is "counter productive." If you've ever been hit with a stun gun or pepper spray you'd find out that the user has all the time they need to get away from you. Check out the testimony on my "Testimonial" page. Pepper spray can be a little trickier when using it outdoors since the wind can catch it and cause misdirection of the spray but when applied properly, can be most effective at giving you time to get to safety. The scenario you described at the end of you comment would most probably end in an assault charge as the one doing the pepper spraying was not defending himself but using a weapon to cause unprovoked harm. As with any weapon, even a baseball bat turned weapon, it must be used properly. Self defense is the key and not to commit a crime. The year they outlawed stun guns in the state of New York, there were more assaults from a base ball bat than there were from the use of a stun gun. You can check that out if you want. It's a fact. Should we outlaw baseball bats? Of course not. It's clear too, from your comment that you've never been faced with a situation where your safety has been compromised and you've been at the mercy of a law enforcement officer to show up to defend you. They are under staffed and over worked. They cannot be in all places at all times and if your safety or life are in jeopardy, you'd better have the resources to defend yourself at that moment rather than wait for them to come to your aid. I'm sorry, but that is a fact too. My son is a criminal justice major and he's all for the private citizen using some form of self protection. James, I'm sorry to disagree with you but if you do a little more research, you will find out that you have misspoken.
Veronica Sindle @ Jun 11th 2008 6:20AM
Once again we see the BAD side of the internet. This type of juvenile behavior has always been around, and now they have a new venue. The entire WORLD can see what rude, ignorant morons their parents raised them to be.
suzanne @ Jun 11th 2008 6:26AM
My teens would be on the recieveing end of the food throwing
( because they are not animals like these other kids out there)
But if you notice we are in the "Jack Ass" nation of kids now
This is small time compared to the video's online now, my teenagers have shown me some of what they see and hear, I promise you food throwing is the bottom of the mountain.
I wish there were something that could be done about what these teens and some not so young teens are doing.
This is an epidemic.
my son showed me the man cutting off his privates on some strange pain wars video??? Excuse me, what has this world come to-where do we go from here~~the sky is the limit.
suzanne @ Jun 11th 2008 4:09PM
i wish i could save everyone from this crap but look above this post ...... way up
girls beating other girls for the fun of it on you tube
throwing food, this generation really REALLY NEEDS TO STOP.
people may reduce this to what it is-but cruelty is just that "CRUELTY"
LOOK UP THE MEANING FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW THIS WORD
my husband came home with bum wars-and everyone laughed, whay is that funny?
kids see some whack job cutting wewe off oh just hilarious
beatings on you tube, that is a reall funny one hear me laughing
is this funny? WOULD YOU LIKE IT TO HAPPEN TO YOU??
OR YOUR BABY SISTER??
or mother
where does is end? I guess it will never end
and for your generation-it will be worse
they will have people murdering on you tube and they will think it is a riot
Janet @ Jun 11th 2008 7:15AM
I've heard some pundits say that this judge is just as bad as the idiots who do stupid stuff and post to YouTube and that he's just feeding into it. I think he's a genius. More punishments should be doled out in kind. I say use their technology to show what morons they are.
Flint @ Jun 11th 2008 8:41AM
Their voices don't sound sincere - they sound instead as if they are just going through the motions to technically satisfy the requirements of their sentence. Unimpressive "apology".
Vietnam Veteran @ Jun 11th 2008 9:04AM
The punishment, like always, does not fit the crime. My suggestion for punishment? Make these two jerks clean the entire store, work the window themselves for a week without pay, and suspend their driver's license for a period of 6 months. Fine them $2000, also have the person who was assaulted, be allowed to throw a drink into the driver's car while the suspects sit in it. Oh yea, film the entire thing and post it on "YouTube" so all can see what happens to jerks who need a job. They surely have way too much time on their hands
Ann Marie @ Jun 11th 2008 10:54AM
I like your suggestion !!
Squid @ Jun 11th 2008 11:21AM
Amen!!!
I know that playing pranks are a part of growing up. Testing the boundries. But you have to be prepared to pay the piper when caught.