PENALTIES FOR BOYS' PRANK (SECOND OF THREE PARTS)

As a result of the prank they played on their friend, seven juveniles became a part of Missouri's juvenile justice system.

If they had been adults, the charges against six of the youths would have been single counts of third-degree assault, a class C misdemeanor. The six contracted with the Cape Girardeau County Juvenile Office to do 30 hours of community service. They were required to get counseling and view a video called "Pranks Gone Bad."

If he had been an adult, the seventh boy would have been charged with one count of third-degree assault, a class A misdemeanor, for placing the friend in the immediate apprehension of harm, and to one count of third-degree assault, a class C misdemeanor, for offensive touching.

Only one of the youths went before a juvenile judge. The seventh boy, then 16, received a minimum of six months' formal probation.

He was required to undergo a psychological evaluation and perform community service and was required by the judge to write a 20-page paper about the Ku Klux Klan.

He also was required to view the "Pranks Gone Bad" video and to sit in on a Victims' Impact Panel composed of people who have been hurt by crime. He is not allowed to associate with the other boys during his probation.

The Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office informed the victim's parents, Stuart and Bobbie Venable, that the office could prosecute the adults involved but warned that the news media then would report the story. Assistant prosecuting attorney Abbie Crites-Leoni also wrote to them saying that endangering the welfare of a child -- his mental health -- would be difficult to prove because there is no case law.

The Venables decided not to press charges against the adults, primarily, they say, in an attempt to protect their son's privacy. The adults involved were asked to provide their versions of what happened for these stories but declined to do so, they said, for legal reasons.

The Venables' lawyer, Curtis Poore, has contacted both sets of parents involved. He has informed them that the Venables have a claim against them, and the lawyer has asked them to contact their insurance companies about coverage. Poore said the claim is being submitted to the insurance companies.

Bobbie Venable says the money would be used to help support their son while he is living in another part of the state with her sister, a single parent.