In Texas, a white teenager burns down her family's home and receives probation. A black one shoves a hall monitor and gets 7 years in prison. The state NAACP calls it `a signal to black folks.' http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703120170mar12,0,1435953.story
If the childre's parent's didn't object, and didn't collect any insurance money, I don't see how the person should have gotten any legal penalty at all for the fire. On the other hand... the vehicular homicide that got off on just probation and a Christmas Card? That's just insane.
starting a fire is against the law in most states as it would endanger lives may be the firefighters neighbors and so on. i did not read the article as i am heading home for now.may be later