By null

May 20, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

i wish you guys actually knew what happend. but until you do you should stop talking about a kid who was in a bad situation. get a life and let him move on.

By Mary

May 11, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

I am not the same “Mary” who has previously sounded off in this particular batch of comments. However, I wonder where the young man’s father is. Why are some quick to focus only on the mother? So many fathers tend to be unaccountable in the lives of the young men they sire. His father should be a role model and also present in this young man’s life. Another angle, are graduation ceremonies really necessary? Why do we continue to cling to these time consuming, and costly traditions in public education? I wonder how much time has been spent on this issue just because of the graduation ceremony ritual which also takes a lot of time and planning. Is this so companies can get their take on pictures, invitations, flowers, diplomas, and caps and gowns?

By mick

May 11, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

he shouldn’t have marched or be free to even think he would be allowed to.

By Buford

May 11, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

The right decision was made. The young man was wrong from the outset. I also believe an investigation should be made into whoever took the pictures of the young lady while she was “out” and broadcast them far and wide. We have another crop of unthinking/sick people coming up.

By mark

May 11, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

I think that was the right decision and feel it was dealt with correctly

By Joy

May 11, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

This decision was 100% correct….the fact that Alochol was present and the “kids” in this case were under the influence makes this even worse. Even if they normally would not harm someone he did and he needs to know that what he has done is a horrible thing that will take years to get over.

By Iagree

May 11, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

I totally agree! If he plead guilty to get out of serving jail time, then he has to live with the fact that he is now a convicted sex offender. That’s the deal he made. Now he has to live with those consequences. His fiends and family should stop whining and consider themselves lucky that he isn’t in jail…he wouldn’t be walking with his class if he were in prison either!

By mark

May 11, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

I don’t care one way or another if he is allowed to take part in the graduation ceremony. I can accept the argument that it is a privilage to participate. What I have a concern with is if the school district actually has a policy in place that outlines what the requirement are for taking part in the ceremony and ensuring that that policy is fairly and uniformly enforced. Decisions like these can’t be made all willy nilly.

By Karpis

May 11, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

I agree with the decision. No further comment need be made (by me)

By Vicky

May 11, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

I agree that the sex offender not participate in the graduation. I hope other schools do the same too.

By Phil

May 11, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this

It is refreshing, and gives rise to hope that so many people agree on this issue. The kid does not have the right to graduate with his class. Congrats to Mr. Eagleowski, stand firm sir, You are right

By Jody

May 11, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this

Yes!!!!!

By Raymond

May 11, 2008 4:13 AM | Link to this

Why was there even a question? We coddle these kids so much they think they can do anything…IDIOTS

By Robert Reed

May 11, 2008 12:58 AM | Link to this

This kid should be marching in a prison work yard for 5-10 years. I hope he didn’t give her the aids.

By Question?

May 10, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

From reading the comments posted, everyone is ready to hang this young man from the nearest gallows. It’s funny, but if the young man were 17 years and 364 days old, we probably wouldn’t even hear much about this in the media. But because he crossed that 18 year threshold, he is now considered “all grown up” by our society. May I ask, where were the parents of these young people when they were at a party taking drugs and alcohol? I like to know where my kids are and who they’re hanging out with as much of the time as possible. Was the girl tricked into taking these substances? Was she forced to do so? Was the boy also under the influence of drugs or alcohol? I didn’t read any details about this. All I hear is “Send him to jail.” We all know what a great job jail does of rehabilitating people with such problems. I’d say the whole scene stinks pretty bad. Not just the actions of the young man. I do not condone what he did in the least, but it sounds to me like these young people need parents who will love them enough to be more involved in their lives.

By noexcuses

May 10, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Every choice we make has good or negative consequences. This youn man, whose mother is denial, chose to do what he did and has to now live with the results. The boy, and his mother, need to go to Lighthouse Youth Service for a needed reality check. Judge Capizzi knows the score, you son would not have be convicted if this wasn’t true. Women CANNOT consent if they are under the influence.

By lyle

May 10, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

This kid doesn’t deserve anything. He should be in the county jail right now. When you break the rules of society, you take responsibility for your actions and you deal with the consequences.

By Billie

May 10, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

I whole heartedly agree with the decision….bad choice on his part…and the rest of her life damaged as a result, why should life go on like nothing happened for him.

By Stacy

May 10, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

I agree with the decision to not let him walk with his class. The graduation ceremony is a privilege. Besides, if a sex offender isn’t allowed to be within so many feet of a school, they certainly shouldn’t be allowed in one, regardless of the reason.

By Tina

May 10, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

I agree 100% with the decission, I also agree that they need to check the other students. These actions need addressed and he does not seem to think he did anything wrong.

By LauraS

May 10, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

I agree wholeheartedly. The kid raped his classmate. What kind of message would it be sending to his class if he was allowed to march (and what an insult to his victim!). If this kid is old enough to graduate from high school, he is old enough to understand the seriousness of his crime. He just didn’t think he’d get caught. Now he’d better hope she doesn’t turn up pregnant! No marching for this kid!!!

By Jim

May 10, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

The problem is most don’t know the facts of the case. This isn’t a situation where someone just went and raped someone else. This is a situation where two kids where served alcohol and one was taking pills. Chris is not the type of person who would mistreat anyone under normal circumstances. He has been a positive at Stebbins up to this point and should be allowed to walk with his classmates. This is also what a majority of them want as well. He has accepted his punishment, but I wonder when the law is oing to punish the parents who serve kids and make an example that their behavior causes situations like this to occur. He should be able to walk.

By Linda

May 10, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

They made the right decision.

By Chester Molester

May 10, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this

I think the scum bag should have had enough decency to volunteer not to walk at graduation. Then we would not have to read about this crap for the past two weeks.

By painfultruth

May 10, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this

Don’t do the crime and you won’t do the time. I can’t believe a school system around here actually grew a backbone! I’m certain however that someone or some group will protest this as “unfair to sex offenders”. Wanna bet???

By Mary

May 10, 2008 6:36 AM | Link to this

I think the media blew this out of proportion. I seriously doubt that the school had even considered allowing him to participate. They were just probably following privacy laws and not making it a public matter. Somehow the media makes it everyone’s business. I feel sorry for the girl involved in this case because it has to bring it all back to her reading such articles after she is tying to put it all behind her the best she can.

By Paula

May 10, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this

I am totally in agreement with he decision.

By Boogie

May 10, 2008 2:28 AM | Link to this

I support the troops and all, but this is way out ta line.

By M

May 10, 2008 2:15 AM | Link to this

First off, I agree with the school and this is a great decision. I work at a school in Northwest Ohio, and I do know that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than what the public knows. The question was never can he graduate. If he meets his requirments by the state he does. Enough said move on. Also, like some in the other poll said, the law says a sex offender can’t live within 1,000 feet of a school, not that they can’t be in one. I don’t think the school ever considered letting him walk. From my 20 experience in education, the school was confirming that there was no was no loophole allowing him to walk in the ceremony. We have to remember that this happened off school property. The school cannot suspend or expel for most violations off school property unless it is at a school function such as an away sporting event. What the school has done is all that they can do.

By Debbie

May 10, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this

Yes I agree with this decision 100%. Kids today should know that there are consiquensces for the actions reguardless of how trivial or harmless they believe their actions are to others.

By tallsandi

May 9, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this

He lost the right to attend graduation through his own actions. Hopefully he learned that getting a quick piece of an unconcious girl has consequences.

By Caroline

May 9, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this

This is the right thing for them to do. Kellie, if you look at the definition of “rape,” it is forced sexual intercourse. If she is unable to consent, then it is rape. The majority of rapes are by someone that the victim knew—not some dark stranger that attacks along a dark alley. DavidSS2, I’m afraid that not all of the districts will follow your advice. I know that Dayton doesn’t have any such policy in place.

By Victoria

May 9, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with the schools decision. Teens in today society get away w/so much crap its unbelievable. Maybe this will make other local schools sit up and take notice. Perhaps while he is sitting in jail, he can think about how keeping his pants zipped could have prevented his predicament. I raised 3 boys and I would feel the same if it were any of them.

By Josh

May 9, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this

I frankly can not believe this is even a debatable issue. Regardless of religion, humans act purely on incentive and deterrent. A post-modernistic approach to criminality and morality is absolute proof that common sense is dead. If my daughter were a victim to this pervert, I would be furious if the degenerate were allowed to attend the same graduation as her. I am sorry to see this was even a consideration.

By Joe

May 9, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

This shouldn’t even be an option. This punk should be in prison where rapists belong.

By Kerry

May 9, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this

As a member of the “Mighty Indians” Alumni, I agree with the decision. People haven’t marched, on the basis of smaller infractions, that didn’t even involve the court system. The safety of the students, should and has been placed first on the priority list.

By Steve

May 9, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this

I wouldn’t let him march either.

By Kellie

May 9, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

I totally agree with the superintendent’s comments about how being in the commencement is a “privilege.” He was very correct on this, and I know my old high school wouldn’t condone any actions, such as LeMaster’s, and let them finish participating in Graduation. Honestly, though… and please don’t bash me on this… but I think it’s a strange situation. I mean, I know the “Facts” that are given to us, but his actions in this aren’t coming up right in my opinion. After all, a “rapist” doesn’t put the victim’s pants back on, minus the buttoning back up. It just seems a little strange. But the DNA given proves that he was the offender, and he should face his punishment like a man.

By DavidSS2

May 9, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

I hope all the districts have checked all the students on their stage for graduation to be sure no one with a record is allowed to graduate. We especially don’t want anyone with a felony record.

By Clementine

May 9, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

I would allow the sex offender to be with the other children only if he was in handcuffs and had an armed guard watching him.

By no to sex offenders

May 9, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

I am happy the school district came to their senses.

By emmy

May 9, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

without a doubt it’s the right decision - if a sex offender can’t live near a school why should one be allowed to attend graduation?