https://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/comments/s3qjsm/kids_for_cash_2013_corrupt_judge_ruined_over_2000/hso84iz/
my brother was .. sorry, IS a kids for cash victim. still is. we are in our mid 30's now. at age 12/13 my brother and his punk friend went to the dollar store and stole a can of hair spray. they went some blocks down into an alley way next to a business (trying to stay out of sight) and using a lighter they were making a "blow torch". which okay, sounds terrifying but we've all been kids fucking around with shit. two idiot boys playing with fire. no one else was nearby. anyway a resident that lived across the street called the police, rightfully so, concerned these young boys were going to get hurt. i remember my dad going to the police station under the impression he would retrieve my brother and beat him senseless or smash his nintendo64, ground him for the summer or whatever shit out parents did to us in the 90s. he was informed by the police that my brother would be taken into and remain in custody at juvenile detention center. even the police were a bit timid about it, as my dad got very upset and full of questions for the officers who said the situation was "out of their hands". my brother had the misfortune of landing in front of mark ciaverella. he was a first time offender, influenced by his friend to do some dumb shit. he was wrong, however my family paid a good lawyer to take our case. even he knew we were up against some tough times.
he was charged with multiple offenses, including theft and arson.