Pa. man gets 1 to 2 years after son pulled own teeth

[longnecker]

EASTON, Pa. — An eastern Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to one to two years in prison after his teenage son tried to pull out his own teeth because he hadn't been taken to a dentist.

Northampton County Judge Michael Koury Jr. said Friday that he only wished he could sentence 41-year-old Francisco Torres to more prison time.

The judge said "Neglecting one's child is the ultimate betrayal."

Torres pleaded guilty in October to recklessly endangering another person. He apologized in court.

Police say the boy tried to pull out his teeth after complaining of pain for several months but broke two teeth and needed emergency surgery.

Defense attorney Timothy Prendergast said his client has only borderline functionality, and "at some level ... he lacked the sense to act in an appropriate manner."
http://www.delawareonline.com/articl...news|text|Home

[Tralee]

"Borderline functionality"? Then why was he allowed to have custody of this child? Too bad we don't have to take an apptitued test to procreate.

[motherof3]

Tralee I agree 100% I've been saying for years we really need a life guard in the gene pool! This is just ridiculous. I know dental is really expensive. Right now I'm trying to save up enough to get braces for all 3 of my kids, but neglecting even basic dental maintenance and hygiene? That poor kid. Tooth pain is worse than labor pain IMO. I'd rather give birth again than have a bad tooth ache!

[hockey]

This is another perfect example of why everyone should automatically be put on birth control (male & female). In order to have a child, you have to pass all the appropriate tests proving your intentions and capability (physical, mental & financial).

I don't care if this sounds barbaric...

[longnecker]

This is another perfect example of why everyone should automatically be put on birth control (male & female). In order to have a child, you have to pass all the appropriate tests proving your intentions and capability (physical, mental & financial).

I don't care if this sounds barbaric...

Not only in our country. This needs to be done worldwide.I guess I'm going to get some shit over this. Unfortunately for those of us following the news in general it seems like a no brainer.

[max1]

yep, thats what they do in a free society.

lol, you guys sound like dictators....

[longnecker]

yep, thats what they do in a free society.

lol, you guys sound like dictators....

I know it doesn't sound good. Sounds like Hitler and that is not my intention . Unfortunately the ones that have the least to offer society are the ones who have nothing to do but make babies. Sounds cruel but if you step back and look at the world and think of your grandchildren and their kids. Well. Maybe it's a no win situation.

[Tralee]

This is another perfect example of why everyone should automatically be put on birth control (male & female). In order to have a child, you have to pass all the appropriate tests proving your intentions and capability (physical, mental & financial).

I don't care if this sounds barbaric...

Just a tad "1984" but just think of all those healthy, loved and wanted children we would have. We have to be tested to drive a car, I KNOW raising a child is just a bit harder.

[hockey]

Dictators or worried about all the children born to stupid, narcissistic parents? It's a fine line.

I know it's the ultimate control tactic and I'd probably flip out too if a government tried this but.... but.... I want to stop people from having kids they don't want in the first place or are just too...way too dumb to properly raise and care for them. These kids, no fault of their own, will become dysfunctional adults and the pattern repeats. Darwin's theory and Natural Selection can't keep up unless some enormous plague enters and wipes out half the planet? Or worse... one of these dimwitted kids grows up to be a politician and pushes that big red button, wiping out civilization as we know it. Much more likely.

I'm going to watch Idiocracy tonight!

[max1]

I think we all have had those thought time to time but really this starts in the home. But then we have LBJ to thank for a lot of this, great society my ass. This failure came about because people got to the point that they expected something for nothing and look where it has gotten us.