He's back! Will Semaj Booker be sent to juvenile detention this time?

Back when Semaj was "just a boy" (age 9), after he successfully sneaked onto a plane to Texas, his mother
Sakinah Booker, 29, took her son to California to do a taped show with television host Dr. Phil McGraw to get counseling for her son.

<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003583879_websemaj22.html>

Semaj Booker makes trouble behind bars

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. -- "Semaj Booker, who talked his way onto two flights last year and was caught trying to do it again earlier this year, has acted up again.

"The 11 year old has been in juvenile detention since the Fourth of July weekend when he broke into an apartment in Tacoma. While in detention, officials said the boy slashed a mattress and made more trouble.

"In court on Thursday, Semaj appeared before a judge who was to decide whether he should be stay locked up or be released to his mother. Judge Frank Cuthbertson reviewed the boy's troubled past and listed his concerns.

"Semaj has stolen a car, led police on a chase, made his way to Sea-Tac Airport twice and once even managed to get on a plane. Two weeks ago, he was arrested for burglary. And this week, a staff report shows he destroyed a mattress and got in trouble for fighting.

" 'I'm concerned about his safety and I'm concerned about community safety. Residential burglary is no small issue,' Cuthbertson said.

"Topping the judge's list of concerns was the role of Semaj's mother. Why had she stopped giving him his ADHD medication? What about reports of violence between the boy's mother and her boyfriend? Has Semaj been abused or neglected? And why did he miss 43 days of school last year?

"Sakinah Booker had an answer to one of the judge's questions. She said she had taken her son out of school at the end of May for his own good.

"I'm tired of the school system. I'm tired of the way they're treating my son," she said.

"But her answer didn't ease the concerns of the judge, who ordered Semaj to remain in detention. He ordered a mental evaluation and a physical exam for Semaj, and also said a social worker should be assigned to the boy.

"Semaj will be back in court once those three requests are met. The judge hopes to see him sometimes in the next ten days to decide whether he should remain locked up or be released to his mother."

<http://www.komonews.com/news/25598019.html>

Mother's parenting skills will be reviewed
In an action that appeared to surprise both prosecutors and defense attorneys Thursday, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frank Cuthbertson ordered the court's probation officer to file a dependency petition with the state, which would look into whether Semaj and his siblings are being responsibly cared for.

Semaj was released to 24-hour house arrest this week after spending more than three weeks in juvenile detention.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008085340_semaj01m.html

So, he's currently at home with his mom, under 24-hour house arrest.

Does this satisfy any of the settlement options? Would house arrest count as Semaj sentenced to some form of detention or as Any other outcome?

@ fingers of fury -- these hearings on Thursday (July 31st) pick up where the last line of Comment #2 left off.

Think of it as he is "out on bail" ... but because the boy is only eleven, "getting out of jail" involves something other than money (bond). He will be back in court next Thursday (Aug 7th) -- and there will likely be other hearings before he is actually arraigned, and a criminal trial commences.

"Thursday’s ruling came during what was supposed to be a hearing to determine whether Semaj could understand right from wrong when he allegedly broke into a Tacoma apartment in early July.

"Such hearings are routine in juvenile matters where the child accused of a crime is between 8 and 12.

"If Cuthbertson rules that Semaj did not have the capacity to understand that his alleged criminal act was wrong, the case against him would be dismissed. A determination that he did understand would mean the case would proceed to arraignment.

"Cuthbertson rescheduled the capacity hearing for next Thursday.

"Deputy prosecutor Fred Wist said the outcome of the dependency action would have no effect on the criminal case against Semaj."

Read more about other possible hearings for Semaj here: <http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/430545.html>

Thanks, newswrangler.

Regarding this story, this is my favorite quote: "People act like they never heard of a kid who didn't behave before," she said. LOL It's a bit of a stretch to describe stealing cars, high-speed police chases, breaking into and vandalizing an apartment, etc. etc. etc. as typical 9-year-old misbehavior.

11-year-old runaway, 3 brothers put in foster care
An 11-year-old Tacoma boy, who has twice sneaked past airport security, once hitched a ride on a plane to Texas, stolen a car and is accused of breaking into a neighbor's house, has been taken from his mother's home and is in foster care.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008117556_semaj16m.html

@ fingers of fury -- yeah, as a result of the "dependency hearing" that was held on August 5th -- this news just became available.

This picks up from where this left off (in comment #5), where a dependency petition was ordered (during what was supposed to be a "capacity hearing").

"Once the dependency petition is filed, state law dictates that a hearing be scheduled to hear evidence about whether Semaj and his siblings “will suffer serious abuse or neglect” if they remain with Booker.

"Should a judge find that such a danger exists, he or she then can order the kids removed from Booker’s home and placed into the custody of foster parents or a relative."
<http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/430545.html>

The judge found that there was danger, and Semaj along with his three brothers — who range from 2 to 12 years old — were taken from their mother's home after the August 5th hearing. (Sakinah Booker's youngest child, a 5-month-old girl, also was taken from the home then, but has since been returned to Booker's care.)

The capacity hearing (a hearing to determine whether Semaj could understand right from wrong when he allegedly broke into a Tacoma apartment in early July) has been postponed until Sept. 17.

Before the capacity hearing takes place, there will be at least one "first set fact-finding hearing" on Sept. 15th, with another fact-finding hearing, if necessary, on Oct. 13th.

@nw - Thanks! I didn't request settlement... was just sharing the latest update on this.

@ fingers of fury -- yeah, I knew that, but there was this category editor with an itchy finger, look'in to settle this based on your link ;-)

This question has been reopened.