A child’s attorney said his client was sentenced harshly because of race following a conviction of urinating in public.
The 10-year-old Black child, Quantavious Easton, was sentenced to three months probation. He was arrested by Senatobia police (about 40 minutes from Memphis) on August 10 after a police officer found him relieving himself next to his mom’s car when the woman was inside, according to family attorney Carlos Moore interviewed by NBC News.
Many children, given the circumstances, have done the same thing, as there was no public restroom at the attorney’s office.
“He did what any reasonable person would do: He urinated next to the car behind the door — not exposing himself to anyone,” Moore said. “He would not have been arrested, prosecuted or sentenced if he was any other color, race, besides Black.”
Moore said he was baffled that an arrest was made, that prosecutors pursued the case, and that even a youth judge this past week oversaw a sentence, which included probation, requiring Quantavious to write a two-page report about one Kobe Bean Bryant, according to People.
Quantavious was eventually charged in youth court with being a child in need of supervision, Moore continued. And for three months, Quantavious is required to check in with the probation officer once a month.
“We are not going to appeal. He will not have a criminal record, this is probation. And he is a fan of Kobe Bryant, so he doesn’t mind writing the two-page report,” Moore said. “But, still, the principle of it — he should not have to do anything. He should be enjoying his Christmas holiday like the other kids.”
Latonya Eason, the child’s mother, said that she’s not sure if her son’s skin played a factor — in his arrest, which led to his youth court sentencing. But, she did say his son has been mistreated every step leading up to now.
“My son is going through enough getting arrested, and then for him having to see a probation officer and then write an essay, I don’t think it’s right or it’s fair,” she said. “The average child would use the bathroom outside … and probably some grown men that would do the same thing.”
