Artieas Shanks

When he was 13, Artieas Shanks took part in the savage beating death of Charlie Young Jr.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Artieas Shanks, who gained notoriety as one of the youngest defendants in a fatal mob beating seven years ago, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and eight years' extended supervision for his role in a 2006 armed robbery.

Shanks, 20, was 13 when he was among a group of more than a dozen males that beat Charlie Young Jr. to death.

He was tried as a juvenile and sent to the Ethan Allen School in connection with that crime. Shortly after his release in 2006, he was involved in the robbery of an east side man Dec. 5, 2006.

The victim, Thomas Lowe, was hit over the head, and his wallet taken in the attack. Lowe identified Shanks from a photo lineup.

While awaiting resolution of that case, Shanks was picked up in fall 2008 after a robbery and shooting.

After Shanks' arrest, Police Chief Edward Flynn called him "the very definition of a menace to society" and said he was a poster child for the failures of the justice system that allows violent offenders to re-offend.

On Thursday, Shanks had been expected to enter a plea in that 2008 case, in which he is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, bail jumping and carrying a concealed weapon.

But negotiations fell through, and the case is now set for trial Oct. 19 before Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Patricia McMahon.

In January, a jury convicted Shanks in the 2006 robbery. Last week, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Joseph Donald sentenced Shanks on the charge of being a party to the crime of armed robbery with use of force.

I think at 13, Shanks belonged in a juvenile facility. No question about it. But his case does illustrate a point.

The argument is often made that juvenile offenders, including those older than Shanks, should not be tried as adults and they should be given the rehabilitation that a juvenile facility offers, as if that's a sure-fire way to get the offender on the right path.

Obviously, it's not.

Shanks didn't benefit from his time at Ethan Allen at all.

Flynn is right. Shanks is a menace to society. He needs to be put away for the good of society.

That brings to mind the Wisconsin state budget and the early release of prisoners program.

You don't have to be a rapist or a murderer to be a menace to society.

Putting prisoners back on the streets via an early release program is no way to save money. It's the height of irresponsibility.