I wonder how all of you who felt he just "made a mistake" and shouldn't be charged feel now after the incident he had 2 months after this? Driving drunk, high, stealing two vehicles, assault on an officer...He's a troubled kid and needs to face serious consequences instead of just being given slaps on the wrist because his Mommy works for the Sheriff.

What good are laws if you can break them w/out facing what punishments are set up for them? It's ridiculous.

This kid had a friend with him when he came to my house. I didn't give any money, it just didn't seem right. It was too soon after the fire and there was plenty of imnediate help from area agencies. He said his grandparents were staying in a local hotel and had lost everything. What grandparents would send their grandkids out to collect money door to door? That soon after the fire? People need to be careful and make sure their money goes to the intended place.

Did he go to someones house that knew him? Did he keep doing it after the news was out? How much did he get before getting caught?He probably had an accomplice or someone who helped him spend the money.He should be made to try this in Flint and see how much he would get.Why would anyone give him money without credencials anyway. This kid just showed how vulnerable and stupid people can be. It is a shame that all these bottle drives etc will be questioned now and they were all for a good cause.If he would have been smart, he would have took half of the donations that he picked up and took it to the Salvation Army and told them he did it in his own. He would have probably been in the news as a local hero who wanted to help the fire victims.

I can't believe this was done. However, working in the prison system & with juvniles for many years this is not the answer. I belive he should not be charged. Why you ask? Because he has made this mistake and needs to work this off by working community service and he has his whole life ahead of himself, why taint his life with a felony. Do you really believe a 17 yr old should receive a felony for this crime? His whole future is a head of himself. Boy, a felony would mean NO job, wouldn't be accepted into a good college, would not be able to live in a good apartment complex. Just think about this. A felony would also mean that this kid would end up in the no good for life. I'm not saying he shouldn't be charged if this was an on going thing but if this is a first ofense then yes communtiy service is what he needs to do. Shame on the people for giving money out. They should know better.

Bring back the stocks for minor stupid stuff like this. Let him sit outside, in the stock, with a sign stating his crime and let people mock him because really jail is to much for this and could make things worse. I think for a lot of misdemeanors (first maybe 2nd offenses) the stocks would probably be more meaningful then jail time.

Mail your suggestion to the prosecutor, that punishment would be so much better and practical than jail time. Oh make cons in marquette county dont get jail time anyways, but it is worth a try.

I agree with rj me from Gwinn. Obviously this kid needs a chance to learn how to do the right thing. Working with firemen and good honest people will teach him more than any amount of jail time will.

who was dumb enough to give this 17 year old kid money? really? he probably didnt even dress himself well or make fake flyers. i think its funny that he even got money from people. i guess someone smart must have turned him in though.

fine him,make him clean the fire dept. daily,put him to work helping rebuild burned homes, and make him apologize at the next pigs n heat fund raiser

Did he turn himself in or how did they catch him? This kid will be a hit at the Amvets picnic.

HOPEFULLY, our ever easy prosecutor will make an example of this clown for what he did.