On 3 Mar 2006 17:18:46 -0800, wrote:

And rightly so!


Press Release Date: Mar. 3, 2006
Contact: 13th District Public Affairs
Phone: (206) 220-737

Contact: Curry County District Attorney
Gold Beach, Ore. Office
Phone: (541) 247-3302

TEEN HOAX CALLERS ORDERED TO REPAY COSTS

SEATTLE - Two teenagers who made four hoax calls in Brookings, Ore., in
October 2005, have been given probation and ordered to pay restitution
to the Coast Guard and serve time in juvenile hall.

Michael Plew was found to have committed four counts of disorderly
conduct and has been placed on probation and given 32 days of detention
in juvenile hall. The 17 year old has also been ordered to pay
$53,233.80 to the United States Coast Guard.
Levi Henry was found to have committed one count of disorderly conduct
and has also been placed on probation and given eight days of detention
in juvenile hall. He has been ordered to pay $10,650.50 to the United
States Coast Guard.

The terms of probation require Plew and Henry to obtain employment in
order to make their restitution payments. In the event the juveniles
are unable to obtain a job, Curry County will allow them to earn money
for their restitution by participating in a variety of community
service activities including forest service projects, litter pickup,
and rest area grounds maintenance. After turning eighteen, Plew and
Henry are required to continue to pay restitution or face jail time.

The searches caused by the hoax calls resulted in more than 20 hours of
searching by the Coast Guard and local responders.

The first hoax call was received by the Coast Guard in early October
from an individual claiming to be on a disabled recreational vessel.
Two 47-foot motor lifeboats a mobile shore unit from Coast Guard
Station Chetco River, Ore., and an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast
Guard Air Station North Bend, Ore., searched for a boater in distress
for nine hours.

In mid October and again at the end of October, the Coast Guard
received radio transmissions from vessels claiming to be in distress
and in need of assistance. During those cases, two 47-foot motor
lifeboats, three mobile land units and a 25-foot response boat were
launched to assist.

The Curry County District Attorney's Office, Curry County Sheriff's
Department, Brookings Police Department, and the Federal Communications
Commission assisted the Coast Guard with the investigation.

The Coast Guard reminds individuals that false distress calls place
unnecessary risk on would-be rescuers and interfere with legitimate
search and rescue cases. False calls also cost taxpayers hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually. It costs approximately $1,200 per hour
to operate a Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat, while a helicopter or
larger cutter may cost from $9,000 to $12,000 an hour.

To listen to an audio clip of one of the hoax calls, click on the
following link: http://www.piersystem.com/clients/uscg-13/48112.mp3

I love it. Of course, the punishment will be thrown out by some activist
judge up the line who considers fake 'Mayday' calls a legitimate form of
expression.

The judge who sentenced this punishment has his head screwed on properly.
--
'Til next time,

John H

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