The story about the boy who stole the cross reminded me of another case that happened about 9 years ago.

In a Massachusetts town every year at Christmas, there was a crche put up on the common with baby Jesus in it. Every year, the baby was taken before Christmas. Every year it was returned Christmas Eve.

A 16-year-old boy took the figure and left it with someone else.

A so-called friend painted a German symbol on it. When the police found the baby Jesus, they decided to set an example.

The 16-year-old was found guilty of the theft, which he admitted. But he denied doing the other things. Because he was 16 and the other boys were younger, the 16-year-old was made to carry the burden of it all.

He went to jail for a year.

There were all kinds of stories in the small town about his parents and siblings.

The 16-year-old used to teach Sunday school. The reason he took the baby was because Jesus wasn’t born until Christmas Eve. That’s when he was going to put it back.

I hope the police and courts don’t try to set an example in this latest case and get out of hand with it.

That 16-year-old boy has never been the same. Jail has changed him for the rest of his life.

Trust me I know. I’m his mother

Arlene Rousseau, Lewiston