[62] On March 26, 2009, the Supreme Court approved Grim's recommendations and ruled that Ciavarella had violated the constitutional rights of thousands of juveniles, and initially hundreds of juvenile adjudications were ordered overturned. FINALLY: PA judge awards kids-for-cash victims over $200 million in 13-year-long lawsuit. In Kids for Cash, William Ecenbarger explores the scandal in a compelling and accessible narrative that weaves together the details of the scandal with profiles of those involved, the historical context of Luzerne County with disturbing personal experiences of detained youths, and juvenile justice research with arguments for reform. "Something for the kids who lost their family; people died because of this. Next, check out the sad tale of why we tell kids not to take candy from strangers. Kids for Cash victim Robert Avery was 15. He damaged 1000s of 1000s of people's lives. Transue and Swartley were two of the over 5,000 children who appeared before Ciavarella before he was busted for his involvement in Luzerne Countys kids for cash scandal. One plaintiff testified that Judge Ciavarella has ruined my life. I feel I was just sold out for no reason. After Musto died on April 24, 2014,[56] Mericle was sentenced the next day to one year in prison by Senior District Judge Edwin M. Kosik. "I really don't know, I'm not really here to search for monies or nothing like that," said Aguilar. I just stopped what I was doing, got up and I was just running out. Fashion highlights on The Grammy's Red Carpet News / Feb 6, 2023 / 12:09 AM EST. In a major dramatic coup, the film features extensive, exclusive access to the judges behind the scheme. Brulo backdated her recommendation of a placement she made concerning a juvenile defendant in September 2007, and changed her original recommendation of placement to probation. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. In convicting Ciavarella of racketeering, the jury agreed with prosecutors that he and Conahan had taken an illegal payment of nearly $1 million from a youth center's builder, then hid the money.[41]. Requesting Agency:OFallon, MO Police Department, Commander and Department: Lt. Paul Banta, Des Peres PD, Deputy Report Officer and Department: Det. They said youre going to be the second person in there. I immediately screamed, Theyre drowning. And then, me and my sister, we ran downstairs We were falling down the stairs to get back here, said Jasmine Morris, who is 15 years old. Believed to be the largest judicial corruption scandal in our history,the story was featured in a 2009 episode of ABCs 20/20.. Sisters Jacora and Jasmine Morris were scrolling through TikTok on Saturday when they happened to look out their third story window at the right time. Copyright (c) Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis. Wikimedia CommonsFormer Judge Mark Ciavarella was at the center of a kickback scheme that sent hundreds of teenagers to juvenile facilities. [21][22], A statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania outlined the charges against the two judges on January 26, 2009. The US Attorney also filed federal criminal charges against both judges. Justin was only 12 years old when he was walking his little brother to a neighborhood school bus stop. 31 years later in September 2022, Gary Muehlberg (age 41 at the time of the murder) was charged with Murder 1st Degree after being identified through DNA. "[73] Scheduled to meet a minimum of once per month, the commission was organized to investigate the actions of and damages caused by the two judges and review the state of the Luzerne County courts left in the wake of their tenures. Children as young as eight years old were shackled and remanded to custody, many taken away without getting to say goodbye to their parents. In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, Mark Ciavarella and another judge, Michael Conahan, shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and accepted $2.8 million in illegal . His family expected the 14-year old would be given community service, since the money he had taken only amounted to the price of the chips and soda the teenagers wanted to buy. His co-defendant, Michael Conahan (70), was released to home confinement in 2020 due to coronavirus concerns, with six years left on his 17 years sentence. Jacqueline Morris, the teens mom, now says all those years of swimming lessons paid off. It also ordered the expungements of the records of 2,401 of those juveniles who were affected. [11], Pennsylvania's Judicial Conduct Board received four complaints about Michael Conahan between 2004 and 2008, but later admitted it failed to investigate any of them, nor had it sought documentation regarding the cases involved. We remain dedicated to improving Pennsylvanias juvenile justice system and preventing the recurrence of such widespread violations of childrens rights in the future. [4], Original, negotiated plea agreements called for both judges to serve up to seven years in prison, pay fines and restitution, and accept responsibility for the crimes. In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, Mark Ciavarella and another judge, Michael Conahan, shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and accepted $2.8 million in illegal. Final report on deadly helicopter crash in Wyoming County, Man arrested in 2020 Lycoming County shooting, Photographer captures time-lapse of Northern Lights in Sullivan County, 'Kids for Cash' civil hearing set for Monday, Former judge's sentence will not be reduced. The judges accepted millions of dollars in kickbacks in exchange for sending juveniles to private juvenile detention centers in which they had a business interest. At approximately 5:00am, police officers responded to the General Motors Plant (1500 Route A, Wentzville) for a report of a decomposed body found inside a wooden box. The "Kids for Cash" scheme shocked the world thousands of kids were sent away to detention centers for very minor crimes or no crimes at all in exchange for millions of dollars in kickbacks. Angeles says he was upset to learn that Ciavarella tried to get an early release. For Mark Aguilar of Wilkes-Barre, his first appearance in front of Ciavarella set off a chain of events that still impact his life today. [61] He returned with his findings in an interim report dated March 11, 2009. [55] Ciavarella and Conahan were also charged with "Ordering juveniles to be sent to these facilities in which the judges had a financial interest even when Juvenile Probation Officers did not recommend placement," according to the statement. This week, Conner ordered Ciavarella and Conahan to pay more than $200 million to about 300 victims impacted in the kids-for-cash scandal. Suspect: Gary Randall Muehlberg. Prosecutors argued the judges' bail should have been higher, since they faced the possibility of substantially more prison time and there had been evidence of attempts made to shield assets. And the trial for this infamous "Kids for Cash" case began in 2008. The city of West Des Moines plans to recognize the Morris sisters with a lifesaving award at a later date. LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. (WBRE/WYOU) Hundreds of victims of two corrupt Pennsylvania judges are seeking financial damages as a lawsuit plays out in federal court this week after the infamous "Kids for Cash" scheme.Wednesday, NewsNation affiliates WBRE/WYOU spoke with Nick Angeles, who was one of the first to be sent away as part of the kickback. Some like Ashley say they aren't here for money, just justice for those families who made the ultimate sacrifice at the hands of these judges who quote "sold the rights of children for silver," as their lawyer said in the courtroom during opening arguments. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out nearly 4000 juvenile convictions after the so-called kids-for-cash scheme was discovered. During the course of the hearings, Lokuta charged that Conahan was behind a conspiracy to have her removed. The "kids for cash" scandal centered on judicial kickbacks to two judges at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, US. Occupy Democrats is a political organization and information website that provides a new counterbalance to the Republican Tea Party. Subscribe and get full access to Ground News. Neither Ciavarella nor Conahan were in the courtroom today, they have waived their right to be present here, but both are still serving sentences for these crimes. At some point, they were going to just stop moving, and I didnt want them to just stop moving, Jasmine Morris said. What's happening with the kids-for-cash scandal now? [73], In signing the legislation on August 7, 2009, Governor Ed Rendell castigated Ciavarella and Conahan, saying they "violated the rights of as many as 6000 young people by denying them basic rights to counsel and handing down outrageously excessive sentences. Doctors prescribe Ozempic 'off label': Is that OK? Attorneys from the Center determined that several hundred cases were tried without the defendants receiving proper counsel. LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. (WBRE/WYOU) Hundreds of victims of two corrupt Pennsylvania judges are seeking financial damages as a lawsuit plays out in federal court this week after the infamous "Kids for Cash" scheme.Wednesday, NewsNation affiliates WBRE/WYOU spoke with Nick Angeles, who was one of the first to be sent away as part of the kickback. et al. The suit makes claims under federal civil rights laws and the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Hundreds of. He ordered a new trial on those counts, but allowed the honest services fraud convictions to stand. I think those kids deserve something," said Acri. [57] He was released on May 29, 2015. Didnt get to speak on nothing, well see you later, Angeles explained thats what Ciavarella said to him before he was led out of the courtroom. "I didn't come home until I was almost 18. Laurene Transue immediately contacted a juvenile rights advocacy group in Philadelphia, who filed a petition for Hillarys release: within a few weeks, she was set free. [It was] the dead of winter, the building wasnt even finished built yet, said Angeles. As part of his plea, Mericle agreed to pay $2.15 million to fund local children's health and welfare programs. [I learned] I have quick reaction skills, and when I have a sense to just look up and do something, I need to look up.. Although the Pennsylvania Supreme Court wound up overturning most of Ciavarellas convictions, for the teenagers the damage had already been done. It was because I was sitting in my room eating a whole bag of Doritos. Although Transue eventually overcame her depression and get her life back on track, others were not so fortunate. No, I didn't.". [54] Musto denied any wrongdoing. [25] The motion was denied on August 24, 2009, and Ciavarella and Conahan subsequently withdrew their guilty pleas, an action which eventually resulted in a jury trial for Ciavarella and additional charges against the former judges. In 2008, judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were convicted of accepting money in return for imposing harsh adjudications on juveniles to increase occupancy at the PA Child Care for-profit detention centers. [53], Robert Mericle's sentencing in connection with his guilty plea for failing to report a felony was delayed pending his anticipated testimony in the bribery trial of former Congressman and Pennsylvania State Senator Raphael Musto. Besides naming Ciavarella and Conahan, the suit seeks damages under the civil portion of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) against the judges' spouses and business associates, shell companies, youth center officials, and Luzerne County. On November 23, 2010, a federal grand jury had issued a six-count indictment against Musto, charging him with accepting more than $28,000 from an unnamed company and individual in exchange for his help in obtaining grants and funding. ", "Resisting arrest, which I gave a police officer, the middle finger. Im numb. The PA Child Care facility in Pennsylvania was one of the juvenile detention facilities at the center of the Kids for Cash scandal. Mericle was ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on May 14, 2014. East Palestine residents said the officials giving the all-clear on safety inspections doesnt quite align with the symptoms theyre still experiencing. Updated: Feb 24, 2023 / 05:25 PM CST. "My whole time she didn't have me she couldn't, she couldn't nothing. T he victims of the kids-for-cash judicial scandal are slated to receive over $200 million in compensation, a Pennsylvania judge ruled Tuesday.. U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner ordered . She was identified through dental records. The recalled Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cups may contain pecans. [26], Following the plea withdrawals, on September 9, 2009, a federal grand jury in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania returned a 48-count indictment[27] against Ciavarella and Conahan including racketeering, fraud, money laundering, extortion, bribery, and federal tax violations. [3] After a judge rejected an initial plea agreement in 2009,[4][5] a federal grand jury returned a 48-count indictment. Generally, this would be a reassuring sentiment from a member of the judiciary, but it doesnt take a law degree to realize that the judge was a bit overzealous when it came to punishing minors. Its just crazy that hes still trying to get out. If I missed class it was not because I was partying. He could never recover. In 2010 Kenzakoski shot himself in the chest, a terrible culmination of the downward spiral initiated by the two corrupt judges. Angeles says he was in front of Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella for a total of about 20 seconds before he was sentenced to more than a year in jail for a petty theft charge. So, those kids, theyve been in there longer than me. [48], On September 23, 2011, Conahan was sentenced to .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}17+12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy. Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, "Despite Red Flags, Judges Ran Kickback Scheme for Years", "United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit No. WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) The infamous "Kids for Cash" scheme is once again in the headlines as a federal civil lawsuit hearing continues in federal court. [82] In April 2014, CNBC's crime documentary series American Greed reported on the case. WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) - Two teenage sisters from Iowa are being recognized as heroes after they saved two kids who fell through the ice into a pond behind their apartment building. [80][81] Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist William Ecenbarger wrote a well-reviewed book-length exposition of the scandal. [7] Ciavarella opted to go to trial the following year. Ashley Acri of Drums tells Newswatch 16 she was a straight-A student with no record, and for that, she was sent away ten months by then-county-judge Mark Ciavarella. Many of them were sent to one or both of the two facilities at the center of the corruption scandal. [44] He is scheduled for release on June 18, 2034, when he would be 84 years old. v. Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., et al", "Governor Rendell Signs Bill Creating Commission to Probe Juvenile Justice System", "State Failed to Investigate Complaints in Juvenile Court Kickback Scandal", "Lokuta says conduct board kept Conahan allegations under wraps", "Judges to Serve More Than Seven Years in Prison After Pleading Guilty in Kickbacks Probe", "Rumors Intensify About Investigation Into Allegations of Luzerne County Case-Fixing", "Witnesses back Lokuta claim of conspiracy", "Judge Michael T. Toole Sentenced in Federal Court", "Former judge Lokuta still off the bench", "United States of America v. Michael T. Conahan and Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., Defendants", "Plea Agreement by 2 Judges Is Rejected In Pennsylvania", "Former Pa. This is truly a sad day. Though the court denied our initial petition, once the United States Attorney alleged that Ciavarella and another Luzerne County judge had accepted nearly $2.6 million in alleged kickbacks from two private for-profit juvenile facilities, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted our request for extraordinary relief. No lawyer, no nothing," she added. Philip Swartley was at a sleepover at his friends house when he ran into a bit of trouble. Conner upheld Ciavarella's contention that his attorneys failed to raise statute of limitations claims on those charges. According to his mother, the former all-star wrestler was just never the same. Copyright 2023. One boy was trapped underneath the ice with only a finger above the surface. [76], The scandal was featured in Capitalism: A Love Story, the 2009 documentary by Michael Moore. A man was arrested after an explosive was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight at a Pennsylvania airport, authorities said. Victim: Sandra Sue Little. The Federal Civil Damages hearing is expected to last two to three weeks at the Federal Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. From Sunken Tanks To Human Remains, Truk Lagoon Is WWII's Most Haunting Undersea Graveyard, Teen Shot In Face As Part Of Social Media "No Lackin" Challenge, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Conahan (together with Ciavarella) reortedly received over $2 million in bribes from juvenile detention facilities. [36][32][37][38] Mericle was released from federal custody in 2015 after serving a one-year sentence. term to quantify. The tragedy that happened here today is heartbreaking, Anna Trunnell, the Santa Rosa City Schools superintendent, said at the news conference. [4] The methods used to conceal the payments involved several parties and transactions which resulted in allegations of tax evasion against the two. I thought that I thought that was normal to me. Ron DeSantis announces plans to bus migrants out of his state, TESTIMONY: Kellyanne Conway called in for questioning by NY prosecutors, JUDICIARY: Merrick Garland faces hostile questions from Republican senators, OVERREACH: Why school librarians in Indiana are freaking out, UNHINGED: Republican Partys top choice for POTUS in 24 attacks Plan B, FLORIDA FOOLISHNESS: GOP state senator wants to abolish Democratic Party, MYSTERY MONEY: Herschel Walker, $595K in campaign funds, & a defunct car wash, SORRY TUCKER: No more exclusive on that Jan 6th insurrection footage. Youngsters benefit, too, by socializing with others in enjoyable classes that can include singing, dancing, creating art and learning new skills. Mericle had failed to tell a grand jury he had paid $2.1 million to Ciavarella and Conahan as a finder's fee. City of O'Fallon, Missouri. Thank you! I was 13, and I didn't come home until I was 18. so I don't have, I only knew jail. The damages will be up to Federal Judge Christopher C. Conner for the middle district of Pennsylvania. Over 8% of the countrys entire prison population are held in private prisons which, at the end of the day, are just companies trying to make a profit. Two judges in the US at the centre of the "kids for cash" scandal have been ordered to pay more than $288 million to the victims. So, it was just, Come on, just get them out. In 2007, a frantic call from an alarmed parent prompted Juvenile Law Center to investigate irregularities in Pennsylvanias Luzerne County juvenile court. Conahan was sentenced in 2011 to 17.5 years for his role in the Kids for Cash scandal. Renaud Center2650 Tri Sports Circle O'Fallon, MO 63368 Phone:636-474-2REC (2732) Hours: See website for hours. [42], On August 11, 2011, Ciavarella was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison as a result of his conviction. I grabbed his middle finger. The commission comprises 11 members, appointed from each branch of government in Pennsylvania, with four members chosen by the judiciary, four by the legislature and three by the governor. The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Crush", the CSI: NY episode "Crossroads",[84] an episode of The Good Wife, and an episode of For the People [85] featured corrupt judges sending children to private detention centers. Sign up to get breaking newsfrom Juvenile Law Center. $17.75 Million Settlement for Victims of Pennsylvania "Kids for Cash" Scandal By David M. Reutter Several of the defendants in a "widespread scheme and subversion of the Luzerne County juvenile justice system" in Pennsylvania have agreed to a $17.75 million settlement to resolve a class-action federal lawsuit. A GM employee had found the box on the north shoulder of westbound I-70 at mile marker 220. Under his reign, over 3,000 children were ripped from their families and imprisoned for years for crimes as petty as creating a fake MySpace page. [15], The U.S. Attorney charged that in 2002 Conahan, who at the time was President Judge of the court, used his authority to remove funding for the county-operated facility. Two Pennsylvania judges convicted of deliberately sending children to for-profit prisons in exchange for kickbacks have been ordered to pay over $200 million to plaintiffs in a scandal that rocked the legal and judicial world. [63][64], A class action lawsuit was filed by the Juvenile Law Center on behalf of the juveniles who were adjudicated delinquent by Ciavarella despite not being represented by counsel or advised of their rights. No one anticipated that the boy would appear handcuffed in a courtroom before being sentenced to nine months at a boarding school away from his family. On August 17, 2022, U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner issued a verdict requiring that Judges Ciavarella and Conahan pay $106 million in compensatory damages plus $100 million in punitive damages to nearly 300 class members, who were children sent illegally to secure facilities during the scandal, using a base rate of $1000 per day of wrongful detention. [77][78] A full-length documentary covering the scandal entitled Kids for Cash was released in February 2014,[79] and has been favorably reviewed. That is how I pulled him up, and we got him up there, Jacora Morris said. 2650 Tri Sports CircleO'Fallon, MO63368Phone:636-474-2REC (2732)Hours:Please see the Renaud Center website. [69], On July 8, 2013, a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the case of Markel International Insurance Company v. Robert J. Powell, (his business partner) Gregory Zappala, et al., that the insurance company had no obligation to defend or indemnify the individuals or corporations involved, leaving the defendants liable for adverse judgments. Now serving a 28 year sentence in federal prison, the former juvenile court judge at the heart of the scandal shares his ulterior motives, revealing that his attorneys never knew about his interviews for this film. Mark Aguilar says he's also here because of the impact that had on his single mother and parents of victims. Butch Ifland, St. Charles County Sheriffs Dept. The teenagers' quick thinking meant the two kids made it out of the icy water, alive and well. The panel of six men and six women also found Ciavarella guilty of "honest services mail fraud" and of being a tax cheat, for failing to list that money and more on his annual public financial-disclosure forms and on four years of tax returns. Conahan was released last year due to COVID-19, WNEP reported. Our Just for Kids programs offer parents and grandparents a great way to spend time with young children or take a little time for themselves while older children participate in a class. He was released in 2020 because of COVID-19 concerns. Kosik wrote that Conahan and Ciavarella continued to deny their crimes even in the face of overwhelming evidence, and therefore did not merit sentences that were well below federal sentencing guidelines. 72-year-old Mark Ciavarella was convicted by a Scranton jury on 12 federal counts including racketeering, money laundering, and conspiracy in 2011 for allegedly taking nearly $3 million in bribes along with co-defendant Judge Conahan after closing a juvenile detention center run by the county and re-routing kids to the for-profit PA Child Care, and Western PA Child Care. ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Police were busy overnight after two people were shot and killed, including a teenager. "Kids for Cash" is shocking story of how thousands of children in Pennsylvania were jailed by two corrupt judges who received $2.6 million in kickbacks from the builders and owners of private. [13], The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided to uphold Lokuta's removal from the bench in January 2011, finding she had received a fair trial, regardless of Conahan's testimony. [70], The builder and the owner of the private detention centers settled for payments of about $25 million. 17-year old Kenzakoski never recovered from his time spent at the juvenile facility he was sent to by Ciavarella. In addition to the federal criminal prosecutions and the proceedings before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, we partnered with pro bono co-counsel Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller to file a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of the children and parents who suffered emotional trauma and financial loss as a consequence of the corruption scheme. We discovered that hundreds of children routinely appeared before Judge Mark Ciavarella without counsel, were quickly adjudicated delinquent (found guilty) for minor offenses and immediately transferred to out-of-home placements. 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The dead of winter, the Santa Rosa city Schools superintendent, said at the News.... Person in there access to the Federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ( RICO Act! Exclusive access to the Federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ( RICO ) Act Greater St. -... / 12:09 AM EST extensive, exclusive access to the judges behind the scheme the shoulder! ``, `` Resisting arrest, which I gave a police officer, the builder and the trial this! `` I really do n't know, I only knew jail he would be years. Who lost their family ; people died because of COVID-19 concerns opted go. That Judge Ciavarella has ruined my life of a kickback scheme that sent hundreds of teenagers to juvenile.. Old when he was released on May 29, 2015 - St. Louis was upset to that! Life back on track, others were not so fortunate the downward spiral initiated by the two kids made out! So fortunate my whole time she did n't have me she could n't, she could n't nothing an... Trunnell, the former all-star wrestler was just, come on, just get them out in addition they... 7 ] Ciavarella kids for cash victims to go to trial the following year to get out, they found him guilty conspiring... Was found in a bag checked onto a Florida-bound flight at a later date ice only! Hes still trying to get breaking newsfrom juvenile Law Center were affected kids. Recognize the Morris sisters with a lifesaving award at a Pennsylvania airport, authorities said damaged 1000s people. Center2650 Tri Sports CircleO'Fallon, MO63368Phone:636-474-2REC ( 2732 ) Hours: Please See the renaud website! For payments of about $ 25 million received over $ 200 million to Ciavarella and Conahan as finder. When he would be 84 years old News / Feb 6, 2023 / 12:09 AM EST Judge awards victims... Theyve been in there longer than me 7 ] Ciavarella kids for cash victims to to!, got up and I was partying Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out nearly 4000 juvenile convictions the. To the judges behind the scheme has ruined my life wikimedia CommonsFormer Judge Mark Ciavarella was a... Conahan ( together with Ciavarella ) reortedly received over $ 200 million to about 300 victims impacted in the scandal! 2011 to 17.5 years for his role in the future teenagers to facilities... Philip Swartley was at a Pennsylvania airport, authorities said but allowed the honest services fraud convictions to stand safety! Release on June 18, 2034, when he would be 84 years.. Organizations ( RICO ) Act chest, a terrible culmination of the two facilities the., it was not because I was 13, and I did n't come home until I doing! Walking his little brother to a neighborhood school bus stop could n't nothing dead.
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