Bucks County DA Mad At 11-Year-Old For Stealing Her Lunch Money, Defames 11-Year-Old In Newspaper

You may have heard about the then-10 year old boy in Bucks County, Joseph Ramos, who faces a first-degree felony charge for burglary after he and another person broke into the home of a friend.

Ramos, who is now 11, allegedly took $340 cash, a video game and controller and some pogs trading cards. He says he didn’t take anything. Bucks County DA Diane Gibbons filed felony charges against Ramos.

Oh, and there’s one more little detail: The house Ramos is accused of pilfering from is owned by T. Gary Gambardella, chief of special investigations for — wait for it — Bucks County District Attorney Diane Gibbons!

After approving the charges on Oct. 2, Gibbons’ office waited until January to ask the state attorney general to take over. Then, things got a little weird(er):

The case took on added controversy on March 19, the day after The Inquirer published a story detailing the handling of the case.

Gibbons responded by accusing the boy of being a serial burglar.

“Look, this is the third house this kid has burglarized. This conduct has got to be addressed. Something is going on with this kid,” she said in a story published on the front pages of the Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer of Doylestown. Gibbons’ accusation has been repeated several times in opinion columns, letters to the editor and on at least one talk-radio show.

The Inquirer, however, has found no evidence to back her claim.

Plumstead Township Police Chief Duane Hasenauer, whose officers investigated the case, says he knows of no other complaints made by anyone about Joseph or his family.

You mess with Diane Gibbons, she’ll do whatever it takes to get you, even if you’re only 11! Ha ha! I can’t wait ’til she’s up for re-election: DIANE GIBBONS. TOUGH ON CRIME. TOUGH ON MARIJUANA SMOKERS. TOUGH ON 11 YEAR OLDS.

Update, 3:06 p.m.: Ramos received six months probation at a hearing today.

Hearing today for boy, 11, charged as a felon [Inquirer]