Gio Takahashi
07-08-2008, 10:39
Judge shows no mercy for infamous runaway
http://media.komonews.com/images/070404_Semaj_Booker.jpg
Semaj Booker is seen in a 2007 file photo.
TACOMA, Wash. -- A young boy who repeatedly made national headlines for talking his way onto airline flights is in trouble again.
Semaj Booker, 11, faced a judge on Monday. He was arrested by Tacoma police Saturday for investigation of burglary after allegedly breaking into a house, prosecutor Fred Wist said.
The boy was being held in Remann Hall for investigation of destroying property and making false statements.
Wist said police responded to a Tacoma residence when a woman called 911 to report hearing noises coming from her daughter's bedroom. Officers found Semaj in the bedroom, and he first told them he came in looking for his Gameboy, which someone had thrown through the window.
He allegedly gave officers a fake name and said he was 14 years old.
"(The boy) provided them false and misleading information about his name, his date of birth and where he did or didn't live," said Wist.
Wist said Semaj changed his story many times, at one point telling officers he had been running from gang members, and later saying his mother was in the hospital after having been shot.
When asked where he lived, Semaj gave the officers multiple fake addresses and, after checking out three of them, he was taken to the Remann Hall detention facility.
Wist said a worker at Remann Hall eventually recognized the boy as Semaj.
"He was ultimately booked under one of the false names, and it was only because one of the detention facility employees recognized him that he was properly identified," Wist said.
In court Monday afternoon, a judge ordered that Semaj remain in custody, despite his mother's request that he be allowed to return home and be subject to electronic monitoring.
"I feel that he should do house arrest. I can't afford detention," Sakinah Booker told the judge. "I want him to know he is affecting me and my other kids, and I cannot financially lose another job for this."
In rejecting the request, the judge said Sakinah Booker had shown disregard for previous court rulings regarding her son.
Sakinah cried during the hearing and Semaj did not look at her the entire time. He showed no emotion and stared straight ahead until learning that he would remain in custody, at which time he simply lowered his head in the courtroom.
His arraignment was postponed pending a capacity hearing to determine whether Semaj understands the charges against him and the difference between right and wrong.
Semaj was last in court June 16 when he was sentenced to a year's probation for an attempt in May to talk his way on board a flight at Sea-Tac Airport.
Airport officials said Semaj didn't have a ticket, nor had any luggage or identification, but somehow made it past the security checkpoint.
In January 2007, authorities say the boy took a neighbor's car and sped down State Highway 512 with police in pursuit. He eventually crashed when the car's engine blew, according to court records.
The next day, the then 4-foot-9-inch fourth grader talked his way onto two Southwest Airlines flights and flew to Texas all by himself. His mother said her son was unhappy in the Tacoma suburb of Lakewood and wanted to be with his grandfather in Dallas.
Semaj later appeared on the talk show "Dr. Phil" with his mother - in violation of a court order at the time - to discuss his case.
Source: KOMO News (http://www.komonews.com/news/24034809.html)
http://media.komonews.com/images/070404_Semaj_Booker.jpg
Semaj Booker is seen in a 2007 file photo.
TACOMA, Wash. -- A young boy who repeatedly made national headlines for talking his way onto airline flights is in trouble again.
Semaj Booker, 11, faced a judge on Monday. He was arrested by Tacoma police Saturday for investigation of burglary after allegedly breaking into a house, prosecutor Fred Wist said.
The boy was being held in Remann Hall for investigation of destroying property and making false statements.
Wist said police responded to a Tacoma residence when a woman called 911 to report hearing noises coming from her daughter's bedroom. Officers found Semaj in the bedroom, and he first told them he came in looking for his Gameboy, which someone had thrown through the window.
He allegedly gave officers a fake name and said he was 14 years old.
"(The boy) provided them false and misleading information about his name, his date of birth and where he did or didn't live," said Wist.
Wist said Semaj changed his story many times, at one point telling officers he had been running from gang members, and later saying his mother was in the hospital after having been shot.
When asked where he lived, Semaj gave the officers multiple fake addresses and, after checking out three of them, he was taken to the Remann Hall detention facility.
Wist said a worker at Remann Hall eventually recognized the boy as Semaj.
"He was ultimately booked under one of the false names, and it was only because one of the detention facility employees recognized him that he was properly identified," Wist said.
In court Monday afternoon, a judge ordered that Semaj remain in custody, despite his mother's request that he be allowed to return home and be subject to electronic monitoring.
"I feel that he should do house arrest. I can't afford detention," Sakinah Booker told the judge. "I want him to know he is affecting me and my other kids, and I cannot financially lose another job for this."
In rejecting the request, the judge said Sakinah Booker had shown disregard for previous court rulings regarding her son.
Sakinah cried during the hearing and Semaj did not look at her the entire time. He showed no emotion and stared straight ahead until learning that he would remain in custody, at which time he simply lowered his head in the courtroom.
His arraignment was postponed pending a capacity hearing to determine whether Semaj understands the charges against him and the difference between right and wrong.
Semaj was last in court June 16 when he was sentenced to a year's probation for an attempt in May to talk his way on board a flight at Sea-Tac Airport.
Airport officials said Semaj didn't have a ticket, nor had any luggage or identification, but somehow made it past the security checkpoint.
In January 2007, authorities say the boy took a neighbor's car and sped down State Highway 512 with police in pursuit. He eventually crashed when the car's engine blew, according to court records.
The next day, the then 4-foot-9-inch fourth grader talked his way onto two Southwest Airlines flights and flew to Texas all by himself. His mother said her son was unhappy in the Tacoma suburb of Lakewood and wanted to be with his grandfather in Dallas.
Semaj later appeared on the talk show "Dr. Phil" with his mother - in violation of a court order at the time - to discuss his case.
Source: KOMO News (http://www.komonews.com/news/24034809.html)