Should this teen be charged?

We do STUPID things as teenagers. Most of us, anyway. A lot of times it's because as teenagers, we didn't fully respect the fact that we are not invincible, that we (and our friends) don't always know best, and that are consequences to our actions. One example of this played out with deadly consequence in Jacksonville this summer.

Here are the facts to this situation:

• In June, nine teens (ranging in age from 15-17) decided to skip their final day of class and head to the beach
• One of the teens, 16, borrowed the car from her parents but became sick so she asked her 15 year old boyfriend to drive them instead
• In Florida, even with a learner's permit, there must be a 21 year old in the passenger seat of the vehicle
• At the time of the accident, he was driving 72 in a 65 mph zone
• Possibly due to the weight in the vehicle (carrying NINE passengers in a FIVE passenger SUV) one of the tires blew out and the SUV rolled over several times
• The 15 year old driver was the only one wearing a seatbelt
• Four of the children died
• Four were sent to the hospital
• The 15 year old wasn't physically harmed (thanks to his seatbelt, I imagine). He was able to pull himself from the vehicle and lay beside his friends as he heard two of them take their last breaths and die on the scene and the others cry in pain and agony.
• He faces four counts of driving without a license, causing death (felonies); four counts of driving without a license (felonies), causing serious injury; and one count of careless driving (misdemeanor).
• If he were an adult, the charges may have simply been "vehicular homicide" but considering the circumstances, the DA feels they are going light (although the charges could carry up to 40 years if he's tried as an adult which has yet to be determined).
• For the record, 1/2 of the parents want him charged, 1/2 feel he's been punished "enough."

Sometimes our laws and justice system are there not just to punish someone who committed a crime... but to deter others from taking those same actions (thanks, Mom).

I've listed the facts. Now it's time for your opinions. Do you feel he should be charged with the eight felonies and one misdemeanor? Should the other teenagers be held responsible for their actions and/or be charged with something as well - i.e. reckless endangerment (afterall, he didn't make them get in, not wear seatbelts, or overcrowd the SUV)? If you were one of those teens, would you want your friend to be punished legally? But what if you were the parent??? How would you fele if you received a phone call not long after seeing your teen off to school stating that your child was killed/injured in a car accident as a result of someone else's negligence. Would you want him punished for the crimes he committed?

Sound off!

CDA2