this kid has serious issues....anyone who would harm innocent, defenseless, sweet animals is EVIL and should be treated/charged accordingly!

He obviously needs help, but I think people are two quick to say "put them away for a long time." He's young and can most likely be helped. Sticking him in prison will only make him worse, don't you think?

"Put away" does not necessarily mean prison; it can mean a mental health facility. The fact is that these kinds of crimes--which are typically committed by teenage boys-- are a sign of SERIOUS mental issues. And, the fact is, as Howard says, that this kind of behavior generally escalates. This is not something that can be solved with an hour of counseling every week--if it can be solved at all. Often the people who engage in this kind of behavior are psychopaths or sociopaths (think Ted Bundy).

Hope he gets help and glad he was caught before he could do more harm.

Kudos to the Police Department!!

I agree completely with Carol and Howard's comments. We have responsibilities towards future victims, human and animal as well as the sick person. Passing the buck /refusing to act on behalf of ALL is cowardly and results in outcomes like VA Tech. I truly hope we have learned from that tragedy. Lisa K. Robinson

Instead of prematurely arguing and rushing to judgement about punishment, how about a different tact?
We might try public education about this type of sad behavior, discussions in all the faith communities, youth groups should get involved with presentations, our community's youth of all ages should have more exposure to these animals, etc.
And then, through Patch and other media outlets, this type of sensitivity work should be consistent and continual. We've seen the problem, now let's pull together in a preventive mode.
Mike

This teen has serious issues. In addition to mental health help he should be required to do community service working with animals. Maybe then he would understand how precious animals are

No normal person would do this. It is not a case of this 17 year old is not being educated enough.He is sick period. He is dangerous and needs to be away from society.

MIchael, with all due respect, you comment is TOTAL nonsense. If you know people who do not inherently know that it's just not right to slash animals, then we have a different set of friends. If someone has to be "taught" that this behavior is bad, it's too late. NO ONE should need a "presentation" on this. I sure hope you're kidding on this, because, as you can see, you are a minority of one.

It sounds as though he needs to be placed in a therapeutic treatment facility. He may have been abused himself. It's very tough to get mental health treatment. He obviously has mental health issues. I hope he gets more help than jail.

Whats happened at the park is no so different from what you watch on TV every night. Its not so different from what's available on XBOX or other game consoles. Except that the target is human and not animal.
I would suspect that many of these cases begin with violence in the household and/or an abusive parent - the circle is complete. Anyone outraged about these incidents should watch BUCK, it gives you hope that an abused child can learn to love and respect and pass those values onto others.

Sometimes people are born this way. There is something physiologically amiss. I know it's not popular to believe but it is true.

Michael McKee, that would apply if some kid was blowing up ant hills with an M-80...but this is far different from that. Some things are so reprehensible that are beyond sensitivity and awareness training...this is one of them.

I don't accept it but I'm not blind to the science and medical literature either. There is often frontal lobe anomaly or damage associated with this kind of behavior.

The acts committed on those animals were gruesome and inhumane; those responsible and found guilty should be appropriately punished. However, I see this kid has been tried, convicted, and now many are debating what the punishment should be. There is no indication he pleaded guilty so what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? "Based on a tip" certainly doesn't convince me this kid is guilty; maybe the tipster is the guilty one. It may be difficult for this kid to get a fair trial in our area.

I agree with most if not all the posts pro and con. Nevertheless, I am both angry and disgusted with the unprovoked and premeditated criminal behavior of this "17-year-old Herndon-area boy." I am at a loss to understand, let alone explain, this type of behavior. As for the victims, certainly the maimed animals are victims; but in a larger sense humanity has also been victimized by this. We as human beings are better than this sort of behavior. As such we have all been victimized by this cowardly and clearly disturbed 17 year old.

We hate the crime, so we would lash out at the accused. It is good that people are discussing this, because we need to deal with crimes better. First of all, we need to be careful about deciding guilt or innocence, then we need to respond properly to guilt when it is decided. If the person who did this is somebody who will now get needed help, then so be it. Or if the person who did this is someone who is beyond help, and just needs to be locked away, then so be it. It will take careful consideration to find the right course of action.

This kid knows better. My 3 year olds know better than to hurt others even when they fight with each other in a physical manner they know it is wrong. This boy needs help because he is serisouly ill.

Well said Bob. Once the entire situation is revealed this guy needs serious help AND confinement. Sadly. Only the latter is likely and he will just be held somewhere to worsen.

If this young adult is indeed guilty of these heinous crimes, he has a serious, likely irreversible mental illness. He should be incarcerated for life while serving humanity as a research subject who could be studied closely for ways to recognize others like him more quickly, which ultimately could help thwart additional cruelties to innocent beings.

From an article in today's Wash. Post: "The 17-year-old was arrested over the weekend after an informant who knew the teen told police the strange story behind the slashings ... The informant told investigators that the teen said he had gone to a paddock near the park on April 26 to film himself riding a horse, according to the warrant. The horses belonged to the Spirit Open Equestrian Program, which teaches children with disabilities how to ride. The teen donned a black mask and black clothing and climbed onto the back of a white horse, but the animal threw him, the informant told investigators, and the teen became angry. Police did not say why the teen was making the video or explain his outfit. “[ The teen] said he was mad and began to hit the horse,” according to the search warrant. “He also told the [informant] he then hit the other horses. Later that day, the teen took the informant to the paddock, according to the search warrant. The informant told detectives that he observed an open wound on the white horse’s thigh and blood running down its leg. At that point, according to the search warrant, the teen made a startling admission: He had cut the horses with a 22-inch machete. ...

"The informant gave the account on Friday and the teen suspect was arrested on Saturday, police said. The teen has been charged with four felony counts of maiming animals, three misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of unlawful entry. He is scheduled for trial on July 13. His lawyer and his mother declined to comment. The injured animals are expected to recover."

I think some of you sound just as viscious as him.

People like Michael are what's wrong with socitey. It's not taxes or immigration as some would like to think. It's a total lack of responsibility. It's making any kind of punishment an anathema. Instead we are told to treat people with the softest kid golves possible. As if everyone has some good in them, and it will come out if you only hold their hand and tell them it will be ok. Well, Michael, that's not the case. Some people are truly psyco. Criminally insane. And, in this case, just plain animals. Maybe this person was failed by their parents. I don't know, and frankly I don't really care. All I know is that he is a clear and present threat to socitey, and should be put down like the animal he is. For I, for one, do not want to put anybody's life in danger for your hair brained utopian ideals.

Based on the suspect's statements about making a video of him riding a horse, we have to wonder where is the video (if it exists)--do the police have it? If not, who does? The kid had to have someone else involved if his intention was to make a video of him riding a horse...

Seeing as there's now a recurrence, and the kid in question is already in custody, the situation points to either a copycat, or another/others involved with the first suspect continuing the attacks.

The teen charged in this case was convicted yesterday. His sentencing will be later this year. Check out the full update on Herndon Patch here:
http://herndon.patch.com/articles/teen-convicted-in-herndon-area-animal-slashings