BATAVIA, Ohio, May 25, 2007
Life For Killing Boy Who Tread On Lawn
Ohio Man Sentenced In Shooting Of 15-Year-Old Who Crossed His Yard
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Larry Mugrage is shown in an undated yearbook photo. (AP Photo/The Cincinnati Enquirer)
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Charles Martin, 67, must serve 18 years before he can be considered for parole, Clermont County Common Pleas Judge William Walker ordered, adding that he would urge that Martin never be considered for parole.
The man was convicted last month of murder in the March 2006 shotgun killing of 15-year-old Larry Mugrage Jr., a high school freshman.
Martin told the court he was sorry the shooting occurred but said the teen knew how much Martin cared for his lawn and provoked him.
"He stepped on it and he walked 40 feet through it," Martin said. "I cared about it. I cut it every five days."
Prosecutors said Martin had confronted the teen earlier in the day when he walked into Martin's yard on his way to a friend's house, then loaded his .410-gauge shotgun and waited more than three hours for him to return.
When the boy stepped on the lawn again, Martin fired at him twice, according to testimony. He then called 911, telling a dispatcher: "I just killed a kid."
Martin was tried on aggravated murder but convicted of murder, a lesser count, because jurors because could not agree the killing was planned.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 127 CommentsBut I didn't shoot the kid
Instead, I just put poison ivy all over my fence.
Problem solved
...
Native plants and grasses are considered weeds to neighbors like mine. My natural lawn is cut once a week as required by ordinance. But the hedge he planted in the middle of the property line is ala natural on my side and manicured on his. If he wanted it manicured on both sides he should have planted it completely on his side. I let it grow to keep his motion activated light out of my house at night. Otherwise on windy nights it would be like a disco in my house.
At issue is imposing your will, values and standards on someone else. Pity the man for having such high regard for his lawn but *** him for killing over it.
To Gary1911, if the victim were your own son, knowing that there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood, that he was basically a good kid, and the alternative is walking in the street (a potential target for drunken roadkill street artists)I think you might have a different view. In fact, even if your son was a punk (more likely, given his father's view on this incident) I think you would be looking for a sniper to tag Martin in the jailyard.
So old man as you sit in jail/prisom for killing a kid with a gun,that should been taked from you due to losing your mind. You hated the kid,why did you not fence your yard. Kids and adults can be punks.I never had kids so they need to walk too.
How does it work, that you get killed, and everyone is willing to rake your name through the mud, blame you and your parents for provoking the insane murderer.
No, it's not reasonable at all that kids should be taught to act like everyone has a gun, and will kill them at any slight, whether real or imagined (and this one was clearly in the 'imagined' class). You lock the nut-jobs up, not the normal people!
Hope Martin is careful walking the prison yard - wouldn't want him to accidentally step into a section someone there considers 'theirs'.
Second - there are no sidewalks - everyone walks on the lawn.
Third - the lawn - ever seen a picture of it? It was nothing but a normal half brown patchy front yard.
Fourth - there is never, ever, in any way, any excuse, ever, no matter what is said, no matter what the kid might do to make you feel 'disrespected', to cold-bloodedly kill someone for walking on your lawn! Period!
Posted by achadog at 06:13 PM : May 25, 2007
So you knew him huh? Old man was a prick.
Okay.the old man is NOT guaranteed parole in 18 years. The article indicates that in 18 years will be the first time the parole board will consider releasing him. They can and often do say NO.
Charles Manson has been eligible for Parole many times--but every time it comes up, he is denied. He and the public know that he will probably NEVER get out. Parole is never guaranteed it just means that a case will be reviewed and people will determine if a person is rehabilitated enough to return to society.
I agree with you toldyouso21.
I just have a difficult time with zuser justifying the old man's actions. Yes you can't guarantee how others will react, it's just sad that there are people out there that agree with that sentiment.
I totally agree with you but....as a mother of 5 kids (4 grown) who raised them to be loving and respectful to not run in stores, etc...I have to say this. If this were a perfect world or a Truman Show--we could order up an SOP on how to react--but just like in raising kids--the people in this society are winging it--and the way they handle events has a lot to do with how they were raised and what they have come in contact with.
What I was trying to point out is that you never know who people will come in contact with--and since we cannot dictate or control a reaction we can only control ourselves and try to limit the types of reactions we elicit. This means we teach our children to be discreet, to watch what they say and consider the circumstances and the audience, to not antagonize others--not for sport or entertainment or even, if possible--not for retaliation. We teach them that--because even if what you say was the right response is right....some will not do it that way--and to prevent our babies from being victims--we teach them not to survive in a perfect world--or even an ideal one--we teach them to survive and thrive in this dysfunctional one--where if you say the wrong thing, wear the wrong clothes, drive in the wrong neighborhood or walk in the wrong places--a nut can and will kill you.
I read a story about this some time ago also. It said the kid and the man had several discussions about the yard and the man warned the boy that he would shoot him the next time he did this. It also said the kid (and others) had walked on the man's yard numerous times. Still, the man over reacted and killed the kid and there is no way he was right in doing that--but like I said--right or wrong, the kid is dead--you cannot raise a child for every eventuality--but if parents would at least raise their children to respect other's property and to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run... a lot more kids would live to grow up.
On another note, the man may have slight dementia. When older people have that--they are not wrapped too tight. Marvin Gayes Dad had it, and when Marvin got smart, the old man took a gun and shot his own son in the head. A lot of old folks do not and will not take guff from others--and just think a good many more --hair triggered, used to getting their own way and calling the shots--baby booming Americans are growing old--it will be interesting to see where this all takes us when the original spoiled brats--collide with the progeny they created.
Posted by toldyouso21 at 04:39 PM : May 25, 2007
#1 My question posed to zuser stated I was curious at where he drew the line. Obviously I realize that the situations stated were not directly comparible.
#2 Call the freakin' police. Put up a no trespassing sign.
#3 STILL NOT WORTHY OF A MURDER
#4 Call the freakin' police.
#5 Call the freakin' police
#6 Maybe speak with the kids parents??? Communication with a teenager isn't always easy...maybe the parents could have helped with the situation???
#7 CALL THE POLICE
The decline of any civilization and any resultant barbarism, is prefaced by millions of small acts that most ignore and find meaningless or harmless that eventually contribute to the destruction of the whole.
There should be a high brow discussion about this--small thing though it is, it has HUGE ramifications--they say the mass murderer Cho was picked on by others--break down in raising and manners (bullies are not raised--they are created in a vacuum of compassion) 31 besides him died because of that and perhaps other reasons. We war, we kill, and many think anything goes--while others think their version of raising is best...it ALL contributes--and yes, it is good to see what people write here--because these may be people you and yours come across and if they condone either the lawn tresspassing or the murder--these are the same scenario you or your kids may one day face. How others think MATTERS--when you collide with them. It could cost you (or them) a life or a war.
For an old fool to kill a child for whatever reason is beyond insane and criminal.
But who is caring for the children these days, and guiding them towards a proper, respectful and successful life?
Where is the respect for elders?
Too many adults BOTH at home and at school are failing the children. And the equally lawmakers are stressing rights to this and rights to that, but not simultaneously stressing responsibility. And so the children pick up bad habits from irresponsible adults, endanger their well being and even their very lives.
Posted by uncondluv at 11:44 AM : May 25, 2007
A MOST EXCELLENT POST.
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