Teen Who Texted in Court Gets Tossed in Jail

By: Barry Leibowitz
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (CBS/AP) Maybe now 18-year-old Demonte Jones will get the message: Stop texting!

The Baltimore teen was sentenced Tuesday to a month in jail, after being convicted of assaulting a deputy sheriff who asked him to stop texting in a courtroom.

The incident happened in January, in Circuit Court in Annapolis. Deputies repeatedly told Jones to put away his cell phone, but he continued texting. Jones then scuffled with Deputy Brian Schwaab and Schwaab's brother and fellow deputy, Doug Schwaab.

The trio fell to the ground, and Brian Schwaab's leg was broken in two places.

He recently went back to work on a desk assignment, but said he is still in pain.

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by rwsmith29456 September 9, 2010 3:29 PM EDT: the article doesn't give enough detail make judgments but a courtroom isn't a place to 'do what you want' and if asked repeatedly by officials to stop you could be in contempt, even without the assault charge. The little wankers that support this guy are same spoiled, disrespectful bunch just like him who think they have a right to whatever they want, when they want.; Reply to this comment

by OmegaWolf747 September 9, 2010 2:50 PM EDT

Was Demonte Jones on trial, or just visiting the court room? If he was on trial for something, I can understand telling him to stop. If he was just sitting in the audience, what's the big deal if he wanted to text?

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by x0xBrookersx0x September 9, 2010 5:03 PM EDT: Because cell phones simply aren't allowed to be used in the court room. How hard is it to follow directions? Obviously pretty difficult for this kid. I work in a court house and let me tell you people DO NOT listen to simple instructions. I don't understand why, but people are just plain stubborn and need to get over themselves.


by tsigili September 9, 2010 2:07 PM EDT: Good. If they have no sense of manners, then teach them some!; Reply to this comment


by bandolph September 9, 2010 1:38 PM EDT: No where in this article are the court rules or the judges rules mentioned.
The unanswered question remains.
Did the deputies make up their own rules?
Do the Texas courts use baliffs?
If so they are the ones to enforce the court rules.
Deputies are normally there to testify about the criminal action.

A lot of comments here are assuming that the Judges rules were not being followed. That may not be the case. We may simply have a deputy who thought he was the law.
Or the kid was like "CHONDER2" a arrogant brat.
However as his sentance would indicate, there is more to this little story than we know.; Reply to this comment


by jeannettelj September 9, 2010 1:22 PM EDT: Just another reason why the inventor of the cell phone has a lot to answer for.; Reply to this comment


by bobnjersey September 9, 2010 12:57 PM EDT: [The Baltimore teen was sentenced Tuesday to a month in jail, after being convicted of assaulting a deputy sheriff who asked him to stop texting in a courtroom.]

if this was in saudi arabia ... they would have cut the guys thumbs off.; Reply to this comment

by davids_place September 9, 2010 11:50 AM EDT

I agree it is having "respect" for the rules. I understand that it is also part of free speech, but that is not the point here. He was asked to stop and did not. I think courtrooms, jails and other official places should have a cell phone signal blocker. That way no one in the building could use their cell phones. I have a blocker and I use it when people are on their phones and being annoying. I want to know what is so important that everyone has to be on the phone every waking moment. Back when I was a kid we did not have cell phones and no one died from not talking or texting all the time.

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by KeithDrippingSprings September 9, 2010 12:21 PM EDT: If you have a blocker you bought it illegaly and are violating the law by using it. It is not that I don't agree with you, but watch out and don't get caught.

by debbyt1-2009 September 9, 2010 11:40 AM EDT

the judge has final say in his courtroom.. what he says goes...if the rule is no cell phones..he's not joking....

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by lancesackless September 9, 2010 1:43 PM EDT: I don't see anywhere in this article about the Judge saying no cellphones...I see a lot of deputies saying it...

personally I'd be embarassed if I was a deputy and had to admit I got my leg broken fighitng with a kid...


by mitch0927 September 9, 2010 11:35 AM EDT: Since this kid was only 18, it proves my point on kids these days. A lot of them have zero respect for others.; Reply to this comment


by mitch0927 September 9, 2010 11:26 AM EDT: I have been in court and here they (court officers) require you to turn over your cell phones before entering the court room. If you are caught using your phone, you can get a fine. Its called "respect" for the court. The judge sets the rules and if you don't comply with the rules, you can be "in contempt of court." When you are ordered by the court officer to comply and refuse again you are breaking the rules. This is a plain and simple request too. When you are in a court room, you are under the rules set by the judge.; Reply to this comment