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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Internet Obsession Blamed for Neglect |
| 2007-07-15 |
| A couple authorities say were so obsessed with the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect. The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, were severely malnourished and near death last month when doctors saw them after social workers took them to a hospital, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal. Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts each of child neglect. Each faces a maximum 12-year prison sentence. Viloria said the Reno couple were too distracted by online video games, mainly the fantasy role-playing "Dungeons & Dragons" series, to give their children proper care. "They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games," Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #8 Ah, the "Devil Made Me Do It" defense. Horsefeathers. I'm sure there was a computer in the house, but if there hadn't been one the results would have been about the same if not worse. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-07-15 19:38 |
| #7 saw the pic of the "mom". Crack-whore look. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-15 18:07 |
| #6 These swine need to be confined at hard labor for the rest of their lives. Child development in the first two years of life set the stage for the rest of that life. These kids have been deprived of a "normal" life for the REST of their lives. While developmental delay can be overcome with hard work, some of the physical, neurological, and endocrinal development of young children cannot be recovered. These two twits were so self-absorbed they never considered the effect of their neglect upon their children. Makes you wonder why they had them in the first place, except it probably goes along with their mental immaturity. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-07-15 18:05 |
| #5 Behold-- the miracle of Sir Charles Darwin! Evoloution in action! |
| Posted by: N Guard 2007-07-15 09:33 |
| #4 WE must control the internet. For the safety of the children. We will set up a department, allocate access minutes to each user, and licence which sites they may visit. |
| Posted by: BigGovSpeaker 2007-07-15 07:56 |
| #3 and forbiddeen to use Internet |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-07-15 05:44 |
| #2 "Internet obsession" has nothing to do with this. Stupidity magnified by utter self-absorption and near-total depravity are the true root causes. They must have worn ear plugs to avoid hearing their childrens' constant cries of hunger and thirst. Both of these cretins should be sterilized and forbidden all future contact with their kids for the rest of their natural lives. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-15 04:16 |
| #1 I hope that when sentencing, while judge would list the offences he's use the phrase: "...and the last straw...", and then give the max. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-07-15 02:15 |