Truesee's Daily Wonder

Mesquite student faces $637 in fines, penalties for swearing in class

                                                                                                                                                                  Staff Writer 

28 January 2011 11:13 PM

It’s not just a trip to the principal’s office anymore.

North Mesquite High School senior Victoria Mullins is taking on a waitressing job to pay $637 in fines and other charges after being ticketed for disorderly conduct/abusive language in class.

According to court records, shortly before 10 a.m. on Oct. 6, teacher Michelle Lene heard Mullins say “you trying to start [expletive]!” loudly inside the classroom.

“A kid who is really obnoxious, starts stuff with everyone and always gets on my nerves was bothering me,” Mullins said. “It was wrong on my part.”

She was sent to the office.

“The principal gave me a lunch detention and told me to watch my mouth,” Mullins said.

Meanwhile, the school resource officer was contacted. When Mullins got to her next class, the officer presented the 17-year-old student with the ticket.

The complaint says Lene was offended, and that by its utterance, the language incited a breach of the peace.

Mullins claims what she said wasn’t loud enough to be heard by the entire class and doesn’t know why the teacher was offended. Lene was not available for comment.

The original fine was $340. Mullins pleaded not guilty Oct. 21. She said she tried to submit audiotapes made later from the classroom to show she was being singled out, but the tapes were deemed inadmissible.

Mullins finished the one-semester speech class but didn’t show for her Nov. 18 court hearing.

“I didn’t really know what to do. I didn’t have the money to pay for it,” she said.

The failure to show was cause for a $100 penalty. The city tacked on another $50 when it issued a warrant for Mullins’ arrest Jan. 21 and then a $147 collection fee.

School district spokesman Ian Halperin said the incident should be a reminder to parents.

“If your kids do something, there’s a way to handle it to mitigate these situations before you get to this point,” Halperin said.

All Mesquite secondary campuses have a school resource officer. The program is funded by both the city and the school district.

“They’re police officers, they’re in a public place, and they have the statutory authority and responsibility to maintain peace and enforce the law,” Mesquite Police Lt. Bill Hedgpeth said.

The program is also designed to create positive relationships between the students and officers. SROs are to serve as mentors, counselors, teachers and role models for the students, officials said.