ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080077
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: ST. CLAIR SHORES, MICH.
SOURCE: Associated Press
WITNESSES SAY ALEX was a bad boy. But under a local ordinance, his parents may be at fault for failing to control his behavior.
A couple on trial for failing to control their son's behavior tried to intervene and often weren't aware of his crimes, the teen-ager testified Tuesday.
``I tried to hide what I did and stuff because I knew they would be upset,'' said Alex Provenzino. The 16-year-old is serving a one-year sentence after pleading no contest to breaking and entering and attempting to distribute marijuana.
Prosecutors charged Anthony Provenzino, 48, and Susan Provenzino, 44, under the local Parental Responsibility Act with failing to control Alex's behavior. If convicted of the misdemeanor, the couple could be fined $75 to $100 and be held liable for $27,000 in damage allegedly caused by their son.
Enacted two years ago by this upscale Detroit suburb, the ordinance gives police ``a legal elbow nudge to parents to take on some responsibility that has been abdicated ... to schools, television and video games,'' City Attorney Robert Ihrie said.
In recent years, dozens of communities nationwide have enacted similar parental responsibility ordinances.
Prosecution witnesses said Alex repeatedly broke the law and blatantly defied his parents. But the question is whether the Provenzinos neglected their parental duties toward their son, who they knew was smoking marijuana and drinking.
Ihrie asked the teen-ager Tuesday if his parents knew he had a stolen gun, marijuana and other stolen items detectives found in his room.
Alex said his parents rarely came into his room.
``I like my privacy, and they know that,'' he testified. ``I told them I didn't want them to be in my room unless I was there.''
Alex testified that he defied a curfew by repeatedly committing burglaries, even after being put on probation on breaking and entering charges. But he said he sneaked out of the house and his parents were unaware of his criminal actions.
``I wanted to do my own thing,'' he testified. ``My parents ... they tried to help me. ... They never really caught me doing any of these things in the house.''
Susan Provenzino testified later Tuesday that her son refused to go to counseling and that she neglected to pursue the issue when he was put in a juvenile home because she believed he would receive counseling there.
Defense attorney William Bufalino said the Provenzinos were terrorized by their son. He also said that the couple is already paying $155 a day to have Alex held in juvenile detention.
``Mr. Provenzino was assaulted by his own son,'' Bufalino said. ``He had to turn his own son in to authorities. He sought the help of the police department and the juvenile court. The juvenile court did nothing, absolutely nothing.''
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Alex Provenzino of St. Clair Shores, Mich.,by CNBtestifies Tuesday as his parents' attorney, William Bufalino, holds
a .25-caliber pistol found in the 16-year-old's room.