Tuesday, March 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Sponsoring Assemblyman Dario Herrera, D-Las Vegas, said Monday he didn't draw up AB39 because of the much-publicized Las Vegas case of 9-year-old Jeremy Anderson - but the bill would affect such situations.
The boy was arrested for carving words along a 348-foot of stretch of freshly poured concrete sidewalk in November. The owner of the company that poured the concrete claimed more than $8,000 in damage.
Anderson's mother, Barbara, has said she doesn't have the money for the repairs and has been critical of police for arresting the boy while he was at school. An April 21 trial date has been scheduled.
She also said an unidentified man apparently employed by the construction company invited Jeremy and other children to write their names in the wet concrete.
Herrera said a lot of "misguided sympathy" has been expressed for Jeremy Anderson. The boy and his mother have been featured in national television programs.
He also said that while campaigning last fall, he found many of his constituents were concerned about youngsters getting away with vandalism.
Under the bill, if children or parents required to pay for vandalism repairs lack the money to do so, they could be ordered to perform community service.
Current law gives judges the option to decide whether to require parents to pay for vandalism.
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