Thread: NC ?Illegal? give students Mecury for show and tell

Is this stupid or what?

http://heraldsun.com/durham/4-739058.html

http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-738718.html

-------------snip...
Carlos Guerra, 21, who allegedly gave mercury to four children at a local church last Friday, will not face charges in Durham because he did not have a criminal and malicious intent, according to Durham Sheriff's Lt. Don Paschall.

"He's showing remorse," Paschall said.

Guerra, who works for an air conditioning company in Garner, was charged with misdemeanor larceny in Wake County on Wednesday for allegedly stealing mercury from a job site. His bond was set at $2,000, which he posted through a bail bondsman around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a Wake County Detention Center official.

Guerra allegedly played with the mercury at the job site last week and "found it fascinating," but didn't know what it was, according to Paschall. He then allegedly stole 5 to 6 pounds -- or a little more than 11 tablespoons -- of the liquid metal and brought it to a Durham church, Iglesias de Restauracion. He then gave it to four children last Friday and told them it was "magic water," Paschall said.
-------------snip...
The system plans to announce on Tuesday where Oak Grove students will attend school for the remainder of the school year.

The mercury scare began when Carlos Guerra, 21, of Durham, allegedly stole mercury from a job site in Garner and gave it to the children at a local church on May 19. Apparently unaware of its dangers, four children then brought some of the mercury to school on Tuesday, spraying it on themselves and others and running it through their hands. They also apparently played with it on a school bus.

Guerra will not face charges in Durham, because he did not have a criminal and malicious intent, according sheriff's officials. However, he was charged in Wake County for misdemeanor larceny.

"should be fine?"
They do know mercury poisoning causes brain damage and is a suspected link in autism spectrum disorders, right? These were elementary school aged kids....whose brains are still developing. Sheesh.

There's a limit to what we can do to educate a society of people that is so far behind when it risks the safety of our citizens.

I have a friend that works at our county jail, she tells me that when they arrest an illegal they call the mexican consulate and they immediately bail them out. If charges are brought against them they just disappear once they are out of jail and never show for a court date, so we all know they are above the law. I wonder if these children will have any serious problems on down the road from contact with this.

Brain damage? Hmmm , as a kid I broke several thermometers "accidentally" and played with the shiny silver stuff. That could explain why my memory is

Elemental mercury can cause damage, however, compounds that contain mercury such as mercury oxide (HgO), mercury sulfide (HgS) etc are far more dangerous as they are water soluable salts that can enter a person's body and be absorbed more readily.

If this guy worked around HVAC, it most likely came from a mercoid switch. Highly toxic. in my opinion way worst than lead paint and asbestos.It's the only liquid that is also a dry soild.