Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Metts getting creative to keep kids in class.

Story, photos by Jamie Nash / Video by Scott J. Engle
MontgomeryCountyPoliceNews.Com

April 25, 2009

NEW CANEY- Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace James Metts is on a mission to keep kids in school and another hearing for truant students in his precinct was held on Thursday in his East Montgomery County courtroom. Just over a month after Metts' controversial decision to send 21 truant students to jail for three days, he not only sentenced more students to jail time, he did something that was a first for him, and a first in Montgomery County.

When 38-year-old Margaret Campbell Butler, of Porter, appeared in court with her truant 15-year-old son for the fifth time without positive results, Metts ordered her to attend school with him to insure he went to school and stayed there.

Metts told the boy he "should be ashamed" for putting his mother in that position.

The son showed very little reaction, but the mother rung her hands and then began to cry. After Butler explained to Judge Metts why his order would place a hardship on her, he changed it. Butler will only have to attend classes with her son at his New Caney I.S.D. school until lunchtime each day, and then she is free to leave.

"She has20to go to school because you can't act right," he said.

Metts told Butler if her son fails to attend school for the remainder of the year, she will go to jail.

Another mother was jailed in recent court session, when she presented forged doctor's excuses to the judge. She is now charged with a third-degree felony.

Metts said the most upsetting part was not that the woman lied to him, but that she did it in front of her child.

The judge said he does not enjoy putting parents or students in jail, but he is trying to prevent the youngsters from throwing their lives away before they realize what they are doing.