Court zooms in on Semaj Booker's conscience
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. -- The infamous jet-hopping boy who last year talked his way onto two planes and flew all the way to Texas, then tried to pull off a similar stunt this year was back in court on Wednesday.
Eleven-year-old Semaj Booker faced Judge Frank Cuthbertson in a hearing to determine whether the boy understands right from wrong.
In July police charged Semaj with residential burglary, accusing him of breaking into an apartment over the Fourth of July weekend.
Olivia Martez said Semaj had broken into her family's apartment by climbing through the window of a bedroom where her mother-in-law was sleeping.
"My mother-in-law was just screaming and just running out of the room," she said, describing the incident in court.
Martez said she called 911 and while family confronted Semaj about being in their apartment.
"And then he was just, 'Please let me go, please let me go,"' she said.
Semaj told them he came in looking for his Gameboy, which someone had thrown through the window. He also allegedly gave officers a fake name and said he was 14 years old at that time.
The boy was placed in detention following the incident, but was soon released and placed in foster care.
He was charged with three counts, including residential burglary, malicious mischief and giving a false statement. Before he is tried on those charges, a judge must first determine whether the boy knows right from wrong.
Semaj's assistant principal from school was present in court on Wednesday, and said he missed 43½ days of school last year, and that he was in trouble multiple times for fighting and other inappropriate behavior at school.
Since being placed in a foster home, Semaj has been attending school regularly. His foster father said the boy is likable, but needs help.
"When he does stuff, it's spontaneous. He doesn't know how to control his anger yet. I'm working with him on that," said Leroy Hodge.
This hearing will continue on Thursday with testimony from Semaj's counselors and his mother.
Semaj Booker's history with the law
Semaj first made national headlines in January 2007 when the then-9 year old stole a car, got caught, then ran away again and flew to San Antonio with a plane change in Phoenix before he was arrested. The boy told investigators he was trying to go see his grandfather in Dallas.
Later in a TV interview, Semaj described using a man's name he overheard on a Seattle-Tacoma International Airport loudspeaker page to get a boarding pass from Southwest Airlines.
Following the boy's stunt, his mother said she was stunned but proud to hear about her son's actions.
"He just showed me that, Mom, 'I'm going to achieve anything I want to do. I'm going to just do it.' So he did it, from driving a car to getting on an airplane," said Sakinah Booker on the syndicated TV show "Inside Edition."
The day before his airline escapade, Semaj was involved in a high-speed chase in a stolen car on Highway 512. He eventually crashed when the car's engine blew, according to court records.
A judge found the boy guilty of second-degree car theft, attempting to elude police and driving without a license in connection with his January antics.
But instead of sentencing Semaj, the judge put him on probation. If Semaj puts in his best effort at school, pays back the woman whose car he stole, doesn't get behind the wheel for the next year and complies with other conditions, his conviction would be vacated, the judge said.
Then in May of 2007, the boy tried to sneak his way onto another flight at Sea-Tac Airport. He managed to get past the security gate, but was stopped at the boarding gate and taken into custody by Seattle police.
An airport spokesman said the boy indicated to police he was once again trying to get to Dallas, but the boy later told the family therapist he was trying to visit a step-brother in Minnesota.
No new charges were filed following Semaj's second attempt to hop on a plane. A judge could have put a felony on the boy's record but instead chose to extend his probation for another year in June 2008. Following the judgment, the prosecutor noted probation may not be working.
"I wonder what was not successful about the prior counseling, and what has changed so that it will be different this time," said Fred Wist, deputy prosecutor of Pierce County.
The boy's mother assured the judge his flying days were over.
"He knows what he did was wrong. He knows he shouldn't do that," said mother Sakinah Booker in court.
After the July robbery case, the judge asked Semaj's probation officer to request a dependency hearing in order for court could decide if Semaj and his siblings should remain in the home.
Throughout the case he had been questioning Sakinah's fitness as a parent, saying the records indicate "a pattern of behavior that causes the court significant concern." Semaj was placed in foster care in the following weeks.
As of mid-June, 2008, Semaj had yet to pay back the more than $3,000 for damages to the car he stole last January.
Previous coverage:
Mother of jet-hopping runaway could lose custody
Judge allows plane-hopping boy to go home
Semaj Booker makes trouble behind bars
Judge shows no mercy for infamous runaway
No new charges for Semaj Booker's latest stunt
The price of Semaj Booker's outrageous stunts
Boy tries to hop another flight from Sea-Tac
Tacoma runaway who flew to San Antonio put on probation
Program could clear Lakewood boy of charges
Mother of runaway expresses pride in son's escapades
9-year-old runaway steals car, then flies from Seattle to San Antonio