Terrebonne council considers stricter pet ordinances
May 21, 2014
Meador named interim Fletcher chancellor
May 21, 2014
While the usual charge for possession with intent to distribute marijuana ranges from five to 30 years in prison, a student in Project LEAD’s (Legal Enrichment and Decision-Making) mock trial received a 40-year sentence last week.
Oakshire Elementary Judge Mackenzie Vordick sentenced mock offender Jailan Gordon after classmates listened to testimony and developed a verdict as part of the program sponsored by Terrebonne General Medical Center and District Attonrey Joe Waitz’s office. The case was dubbed “Little Johnny caught at school with synthetic marijuana.”
Fifth graders from 22 schools in Terrebonne Parish passed through Judge Timothy Ellender’s courtroom last week to conclude their yearlong study in Project LEAD, which gives students an in-depth look at how the judicial system works.
Assistant District Attorney Jason Dagate, who oversees Project LEAD, said this year’s program was altered to focus on synthetic drugs and worked to inform students about the harmful effects caused by those drugs and the serious legal consequences that accompany their use.
“It was different this year because our community is now experiencing more synthetic marijuana usage,” Dagate said. “We wanted to let the children know that synthetic marijuana is very dangerous.”
During the trial, one of the students named Officer Garcia detailed how harmful the substance was. “The bag of synthetic marijuana is the new stuff they try to sell in stores and pass it off as legal marijuana, which is actually very dangerous and contains harmful chemicals.”
Waitz brought Project LEAD to Terrebonne Parish 15 years ago as a proactive program to help students make better decisions and prevent them from becoming a part of the criminal justice system.
“We’re trying to educate these kids as to how bad decisions can affect them for a long time,” he said.
At the end of the trial, Waitz shared a story about one of his friends who was denied a promotion because of an event that took place more than 20 years ago.
“A possession of marijuana charge resurfaced,” he told students, which led to his friend being looked over for the position, despite his qualifications.
Before the trial, Dagate explained to students their location in one of Houma’s oldest and largest courtrooms, which he said is predominately used for high profile cases.
At this year’s mock trial, Waitz and Dagate pushed for more parental involvement, which they saw more of in the audience comprised of teachers and parents alike.
“Anytime we prosecute people in court, it’s normally people who don’t have a good family backgrounds so anytime we see parents involved that is always very encouraging to us,” Dagate said.
“We’re trying to get the parents involved and getting them to come in and see what’s going on,” Watiz said.
Waitz left students with the same advice he gave them less than a month ago at a Project LEAD performance, which featured the motivational group Urgeworks from Houston, Texas.
“Honor and respect your teachers, honor and respect your parents, avoid getting involved with drugs and thank the good Lord for your blessings,” he said to conclude the program.
Dagate said the progression students make with the program is evident throughout the school year.
“Without a doubt they start off shy, but as the year progresses, they get older and they participate more and ask more questions,” he said.
Waitz said he is happy to see the program making a difference with students who come from such diverse backgrounds, whether it be broken homes, uneducated parents or having to live with relatives.
Inspired from a similar program in Los Angeles, he knew the message would be easy to convey to Houma’s population of students.
“If it can work in a big city like Los Angeles, certainly it can work in Houma, La.,” Waitz said.
Parents, students and teachers from Oakshire Elementary gathered in Judge Timothy Ellender’s courtroom last week for the mock trial, which concludes District Attorney Joe Waitz’ Project LEAD program. The jury of students found Little Johnny guilty of possession of marijuana and the mock judge sentenced him to 40 fictitious years in prison.
