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Subscribe to RSSA judge told a girl who cut the hair off a three-year-old child that he would reduce her sentence if her ponytail was lopped off in his courtroom, and now the girl's mother says she has filed a formal complaint, NBC station KSL of Salt Lake City reports.
Kaytlen Lopan, 13, was accused in March of assault. Police in Price, Utah, said that Lopan and an 11-year-old friend met a 3-year-old girl at a McDonald's and used scissors to cut several inches of hair from her head, KSL reported Friday.
KSL said it was given an audio recording by Lopan's mother, Valerie Bruno, of a May 28 hearing on the case and another stemming from a series of phone calls Lopan was accused of making to another teen that included threats of rape and mutilation. In the tape, KSL said, 7th District Juvenile Judge Scott Johansen ordered Lopan to serve 30 days in detention, pay restitution and serve 276 hours of community service.
But in the recording, Johansen tells Bruno he'll slice the community service. Here's the exchange as reported by KSL:
"I'm going to give you this option: I will cut that by 150 hours if you want to cut her hair right now," Johansen said.
"Me, cut her hair?" Bruno asked.
"Right now," the judge said. "I'll go get a pair of scissors and we'll whack that ponytail off."
(Mindy) Moss, the victim's mother, was in the courtroom and fully supported the penalty. She even spoke up when she didn't believe Bruno had cut enough of Lopan's ponytail off.
"Satisfied? Is it short enough?" Johansen asked Moss.
"No," she replied. "My daughter's hair that had never been cut, that was down to (the middle of her back), was cut up to here."
"Take it off clear up to the rubberband," the judge told Bruno, who protested that the scissors he'd given her weren't up to the task.
"Take a little bit at a time," Johansen said.
KSL said Johansen also had ordered the other girl involved to have her hair cut, but allowed it to be done by a salon.
Utah court and state officials told KSL that because of the girls' ages, they couldn't confirm that a complaint had been filed or even say that Lopan had been in juvenile court.
KSL reported that Bruno told the station that she regretted accepting the offer.
Read the whole KSL report here.
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Valerie Bruno is after the Judge and filed a formal complaint on the judge. Price is a small, cute little town in the mountains of Utah. The kind of place you could feel safe with your kids. Kaytlen Lopan and another girl went to McDonalds and befriended the 3 year old. Then the two teenagers asked the staff at McDonalds for scissors, which the staff refused to hand over. The two girls left McDonalds and went to the dollar store and returned to McDonalds with scissors. This “hair cut” by these two teenagers is totally and absolutely premeditated. Kaytlen is a bully and has harassed another.
The Judge DID NOT force Valerie Bruno to cut her daughters hair. The Judge simply stated that if Valerie Bruno did cut her daughters hair he would make Kaytlen’s sentence shorter. It was Valerie Bruno’s choice to cut Kaytlen hair.
Valerie Bruno hired a lawyer, Valerie Bruno contacted KSL a local news station. This is a small town where I am sure everyone knows everyone and like a lot of small groups, I am sure it has moments of being a tad clicky. I think Valerie Bruno is after her 15 minutes of fame and that she believed that if she took this issue out side of Price that the rest of the world would certain side with her.
Had my daughter touched and cut a 3 year olds hair I would of swiftly and immediately administered punishment and consequences; one being I would of shaved my kids head and Mindy Moss would have been acuity aware of all punishments. Had Valerie Bruno properly handled and parented Kaytlen this entire situation would have not had to go to the police and court. Valerie Bruno is a very poor parent and she has enabled her daughter so much and continues to do so; what is this kid going to do when she is 16???? We have a pretty sick society, if parents enable their kids so publicly!!!!!!! www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54359322-78/hair-moss-cut-girls.html.csp
What a great parent, that's what wrong now days, no one is being held accountable any more. That was a good message you wrote.
I believe the judge did the right thing these kids Parents should b held accountable for what there kids do when there are kids. I think that the 3 year old should have cut both the girls hair bald, would they pick on someone there size. I HATE BULLIES and that is what they are.
Good Job Judge....the punishment fit the crime! She should also of been court ordered into counseling...
These little deliquent turds should have had their heads shaved. Had I been the judge that's what I would have ordered.
Where was the mother of the 3 yr. old when this was happening? Just curious.......I have 2 small daughters and it would be impossible for strangers (no matter their age) to cut off my daughter's hair?!?!?!? I also think the ponytail getting cut off is the least of this teenager's problems..........
An eye for an eye. Serves the little monsters right. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. The mother had a choice. She could have excepted the full sentence or let her daughter suffer the same punishment she doled out to the 3 year old victim. If this were my daughter she would be eating soap for the rest of the week for the threats she made as well as getting her hide tanned. If the mother filed for legal action on this I hope the judge that hears the case slaps her with charges for court costs and filing a frivolous lawsuit.
The punishment fit the crime in both instances. However, it sounds like there should have been some parenting classes needed for all the moms' involved since none of them were paying attention to three little girls. Also, the 13 yearold sounds like she might have something more severe already wrong with her. That won't be her last time in a criminal court if the mother doesn't stop making excuses for her and actually get that child some professional help.
Our culture and media is one that can warp a child, who may have been brought up well - we don't know, although it sounds like this 13 year old is troubled or has very poor judgment or whatever and needs help of some kind. I wonder if the judge had consulted a psychiatrist and asked is this an effective punishment for a child this age to help her learn compassion or will it cause her to seeth? I am wondering where the parent of the 3 year old was at the time this happened at McDonalds, but that is besides the point. Kids are very impressionable can be led into things their parents never would have exposed them to, by the media, their friends, their friends' parents, stuff on the internet that they all have access to, etc., etc. We need to raise children who not only are good, but know how to say no and make judgements about right and wrong. The family can't do that alone in this culture: we need to have a community that supports that. So we need to get back to church communities, not disconnect with extended family but have all that we are trying to teach our kids be supported by grandparents and uncles and aunts as well, and to be proactive: get our kids away from bad influences by changing schools, etc. -or get them medical help of some kind when they are exhibiting this kind of troubled behavior. And, if the psych doc or med doc is not having an affect - CHANGE THE DOCTOR UNTIL YOU DO GET HELP. Parents, in this world, we have to be very proactive.
I agree judge, by the reaction of the mother, it's no wonder the child did what she did. I bet that teenage girl won't ever do that again.
Lop off ponytail? No, no, no, no, no. Head shaved, like guys get in military boot camp. Not just for her, but for her mother, also. Yes, a matching pair, just to identify bad conduct with bad parenting.
The only mistake I see here is that the judge allowed the second child to go to a saloon.
I agree. Letting underage kids drink is a very bad idea.
Too many o's, right.
Why in the world is this even news. Seems it was posted so that KSL could put up their stupid ad about "DEALS". Oh BTW shave the Judge's head he seems like a real Ass that way his head will look like what he sits on! So many kids do stupid things, It's part of growing up and they get punished lets make it all National News.
I cannot believe some of these comments. It is absolutely correct that this young lady received what she truly deserved!! This is something she will never forget, it will hopefully cause her to "think twice" before she "offends" again. And what better than for her own mother to do it. In addition, I hope that the mother files a suit, so that she can be taught a lesson herself!! She had a choice, she chose to cut her daughters hair and now she regrets it! I would love to have her in court!!!!
Questions if I may, did I read this correctly did the mother of the young woman charged (Lopan) have the recordings of the court hearing and of threats of mutilation and rape made by her daughter to someone else? If so, did she have permission to record the court hearing? Most courtrooms I've been in (and I've been in a few as part of my job as a paralegal) require cell phones be turned off and no cameras or recorders. Also, did the mother turn the other tape with the threats in to the police? Both the mother and the daughter scare the living daylights out of me! They both need extensive mental health counseling.
You read correctly, and you are correct in having a concern. I thought exactly the same !
The mom raised an uncaring, disturbed child, take the consequences. Idiots! Thin the herd!
The mother seems very intelligent and caring in the video: she also says they expected a punishment, she was questioning the judicial justice of an eye for an eye regarding the hair. Seems the judge made a call that this girl will not forget, and hopefully will be more compassionate since she's been on the other side now, if her intent was not good.
In spite of what kind of sadistic maniac the 13 year old is..this is cruel and unusual punishment which is against the constitution. The 13 year old should be sent to counseling a lot, with a trained child phychologist, and the mother should have to go too and PAY for the counceling...a years worth at least. The 13 year old displays psychopathic behavior and God only knows what else she has done that know one knows about. She got caught this time...:(
It is not against the constitution when you have a choice. The mother had a choice and she chose to cut her daughters hair in the courtroom.
This girl is full of rage and hate. Cutting her hair did nothing more than make her more full of rage and hate.She has no conscience, displays no remorse and is dangerous. An eye for an eye does not work in the case of the psychopath. She could be planning on how she is going to kill her mother...who obviously made her like this...
Did anyone ask these girls why they cut the other girl's hair? When we were kids we cut each other's hair - sometimes it worked out, sometimes it didn't. But the photo of the 3 year old's pre-cut hair looks pretty messy - were they trying to 'style it' as kids might or was it an assault? Wish this story told that aspect. Assuming since it got to court that it was like an assault?
Kaytlen Lopan and another girl went to McDonalds and befriended the 3 year old. Then the two teenagers asked the staff at McDonalds for scissors, which the staff refused to hand over. The two girls left McDonalds and went to the dollar store and returned to McDonalds with scissors. This “hair cut” by these two teenagers is totally and absolutely premeditated. Assault. Also Kaytlen has bullied another and been sent to the DT for.
where was the mother or guardian of the 3 year old when
this was happening, this woman should also be blamed for not
protecting her child, nothing in the report said that the mother was in mcdonalds with her
Good point marci....Sounds to me like a number of adults dropped the ball. Now what do yo suppose we do about the "rape and mutilation" threats? Hair grows back. In a way everyone was lucky...this time...
What happens when the other threats are realized? Awful. Who is doing anything to stop that?
feeding that sh*t to a 3 year old is a punishable offense in itself!
In response to the people who think this is unjust. The judge gave them the choice he told her he'd cut the time if she cut her hair. The mother could have refused to cut the daughter's hair and let her serve the entire sentence. Why was it "cruel and unjust" punishment for the girl but not for the victim? I'm not even going to go into the threatening phone calls Lopin made that got her into court as well. Sounds like the whole family needs to spend time somewhere under lock and key. They got a real nice potential sociopath on their hands.
Psychopath...the sociopath has some remorse..serial killers are psychopaths...I wonder what else she would have done if not in McDonalds...and I agree...where was the young childs mom...this type of person is extremely dangerous...she knew that many times parents withyoung kids leave them in these places and go eat in the restaurant with friends thinking that because its McDonalds the kid is safe...the girl is a case study in the psychopathic behavior. What a perfect place for dangerous people to find unattended little kids than the play areas in all these places..
I guess I need more coffee. This just made my head hurt.