Mother cuts daughter's hair in court, judge reduces sentence

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(AP) PRICE, Utah - A Utah mother says she felt intimidated in court when a judge told her that he would reduce her 13-year-old daughter's sentence if she chopped off the girl's ponytail in court; an offer the mother says she now wishes she hadn't taken.

Valerie Bruno of Price says she has filed a formal complaint against 7th District Juvenile Judge Scott Johansen with the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.

The teenager and an 11-year-old friend were referred to juvenile court for cutting off the hair of a 3-year-old girl with scissors in March and for harassing another girl in Colorado by telephone.

When the 13-year-old faced Johansen for a hearing in May, he ordered she serve 30 days in detention and to perform 276 hours of community service, but he also offered to take 150 hours of community service off the sentence if her mother cut her ponytail in his courtroom.

Bruno is now expressing regret for not consulting an attorney before taking her daughter into the courtroom.

"I guess I should have went into the courtroom knowing my rights, because I felt very intimidated," she told the Deseret News. "An eye for an eye, that's not how you teach kids right from wrong."

Mindy Moss, mother of the 3-year-old whose hair was cut off, said she approved of the sentence and even spoke up during the hearing when she felt Bruno had not cut off enough of her daughter's hair. Johansen then directed Bruno to cut the ponytail all the way "to the rubber band."

Moss told The Salt Lake Tribune that she originally called police about the haircut because she worried the girls' behavior could become more serious.

"I didn't want them to think they got away with it ... It was malicious," Moss said.

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Johansen were unsuccessful Sunday.

Colin Winchester, executive director of the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission, said the state Constitution bars him from commenting on whether a complaint has been filed against a judge. A complaint only becomes public if disciplinary action is taken against a judge, he said.

Under state law, judges are given discretion in coming up with sanctions for youth that will change their behavior in a positive way.

Johansen ordered the friend of Bruno's daughter to have her hair cut as short as his. She was allowed to go to a salon to have it done, then return to the courtroom to ensure that the new hairstyle met with the judge's approval.

[donna0722]

When the judge ordered the mother to cut her daughters hair, this is called the punishment fits the crime. This teenager is deeply disturbed. Since when is it the judicial systems job to teach a child right from wrong? The last time I checked it was the PARENTS JOB to do that. The judge should also make the mother attend parenting classes. Maybe its still not too late.

[MommaToOne]

The REAL question everyone SHOULD be asking is where the HELL was the 3 year olds mom when all of this was going on? I take my kid (who is 4) to McDonald's and let him play on the play structures but keep HAWK EYES on him at all times. If a bigger kid looks at, touches, talks to, or in any way looks like they're intimidating my kid, I'm on top of them like flies on poop. So, just where was the 3 year olds mom while the 3 year old was off playing unsupervised? Sorry, but the 3 year olds mom needs to be held accountable for this as well. Had she been paying attention to her child, she would have seen the girls interacting with her child and this wouldn't have happened...everyone involved would still have their beautiful long hair. Guess it just shows that parents don't have to supervise their children in public places like McDonald's.

[purewhiteflutterby]

She was there with her 8 y/o brother and her grandfather. It is understandable for you to assume that she was there with her mom. Although, I'm wondering where the 13 y/o's mom was. Obviously she should be out in public unattended either.

[raybuc70]

another pathetic excuse for a mother
her hair will grow back

[KnowerseekerReturns]

Sounds like a good punishment, and -- by the way -- "eye for an eye" is a perfect form of punishment for *any* crime. I don't know what the founding fathers were thinking when they decided that "eye for an eye" was cruel and unusual: That's just stupid. We can thank all our excessive crime in this nation to that stupid, excessively-liberal legal theory.

[Melaine2012]

What this article does not mention is that the two girls that cut the three year old girls hair left McDonald's, went to a dollar store, bought scissors and returned to cut the hair. The 13 year old was also in court for charges in another case because she made repeated phone calls over eight months threatening another teenager with rape and mutilation. This girl needs more than a haircut. She needs a different mother. She will never learn morals, ethics and good character from a woman that is outraged at such a punishment. Good for the judge.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

Agreed.

[Smail_Buzzby]

Sounds like Mom should get a bunch of community service, too...what a ninny.

[britney_danelle]

i totally agree with the judge . the daughter had no right to do what she done she needs to be taught a lesson . the mom sure don't give a darn about what her daughter is doing. and it shows now that she is whining about it. "i felt intimadated" BOO FREAKING WHO how the heck do you think the mom of the little baby felt when your jerk of a daughter cut her babies hair off fantastic? i dont think so an if it was my kid your daughter did it to let say that lady was way nicer then i would have been.

[AnnieDanny]

I fully appreciate the judge's decision, and if THIS PUNISHMENT is the one that truly NAGS at this mother and daughter: THEN THAT PROVES it was an EXCELLENT DECISION on the part of that Judge!!

What this girl did is really shocking, and even more so because she actually went and bought a pair of scissors at another store and came back to the McDonald's to do it.

If this mother and daughter don't "GET IT", then maybe this PUNISHMENT will at least help them remember. In my opinion, the mother ought to back up the Judge 100%, if she wants her daughter to learn anything from this experience. Her whining is not going to help the girl at all. And if anything, the mother's whining kinda makes me wonder who the REAL problem is.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

Most kids with bad attitudes get it from their parents. The same goes for kids with good attitudes.

[MegaProcrastination]

As my mother used to say, "Let the punishment fit the crime." What's more fitting than that?

[hellokent]

Mitt Romney cut someones hair off after throwing him to the ground with his gang. He wasn't thirteen either.
Hair cutting is a really a brutal form of bullying and although the judgment was unconventional it made a point. The girl should have been allowed a choice between her hair or her mothers; now that would be fun!
Mitt should be required to campaign with a ponytail; fun!