I am a thief - 2012-04-06 4:38 AM
http://www.katu.com/news/local/I-am-a-th...-146309855.html
Teen wears sign as punishment for stealing
SELAH, Wash. -- Heavy words hung from the neck of a teenager at a busy Selah, Wash. intersection on Wednesday.
A sign around his neck read,"I am a thief."
Another sign on his back spelled out exactly who he stole from for everyone to see.
Leland McClellan was caught stealing jewelry from a family friend's house party last weekend.
The family suspected it was him and demanded he give it back.
McClellan was then left with two options: Wear the sign at the busy intersection or face law enforcement.
"Standing down there with this sign is about taking ownership for his actions, admitting what he's down and moving on," said John Drakes, who has known the teen's family for 12 years.
Leland's mother says her son has a history of theft and did time in jail in the past.
"It was his choice," she said. "I don't see anything wrong with it. I hope it turns his life around."
A lot of people on the street didn't see anything wrong as Leland stood there wearing the sign for about 10 hours.
McClellan got plenty of attention, gestures, looks and people taking pictures.
One man even drove around the block to get a picture of both sides of the sign.
A handful of people actually stopped to give Leland bible excerpts and advice.
It struck a chord with one woman who cried when she spoke to the teen.
"I have 10 kids," said Mary Winterfeld. She said she wouldn't consider such a punishment for her own children.
"Humiliation is not a tool for teaching," she said.
Kathleen Nedrow said she thinks the choice of punishment was wrong.
"It's like he's being crucified," she said.
Leland told KIMA-TV that wearing the sign is a pretty big deterrent and his family and friends hope it's enough.
Quote:
Teen wears sign as punishment for stealing
SELAH, Wash. -- Heavy words hung from the neck of a teenager at a busy Selah, Wash. intersection on Wednesday.
A sign around his neck read,"I am a thief."
Another sign on his back spelled out exactly who he stole from for everyone to see.
Leland McClellan was caught stealing jewelry from a family friend's house party last weekend.
The family suspected it was him and demanded he give it back.
McClellan was then left with two options: Wear the sign at the busy intersection or face law enforcement.
"Standing down there with this sign is about taking ownership for his actions, admitting what he's down and moving on," said John Drakes, who has known the teen's family for 12 years.
Leland's mother says her son has a history of theft and did time in jail in the past.
"It was his choice," she said. "I don't see anything wrong with it. I hope it turns his life around."
A lot of people on the street didn't see anything wrong as Leland stood there wearing the sign for about 10 hours.
McClellan got plenty of attention, gestures, looks and people taking pictures.
One man even drove around the block to get a picture of both sides of the sign.
A handful of people actually stopped to give Leland bible excerpts and advice.
It struck a chord with one woman who cried when she spoke to the teen.
"I have 10 kids," said Mary Winterfeld. She said she wouldn't consider such a punishment for her own children.
"Humiliation is not a tool for teaching," she said.
Kathleen Nedrow said she thinks the choice of punishment was wrong.
"It's like he's being crucified," she said.
Leland told KIMA-TV that wearing the sign is a pretty big deterrent and his family and friends hope it's enough.
