"Give Me A T!"

Dateline: Marietta, Georgia.

Joe Green's family was going to a neighborhood pool party over the 4th of July weekend. He decided to let his children set up a stand to sell some of the items he makes for his struggling small business, patriotic hats and t-shirts. He told his children they could use some of the profits to help fund the fun things they wanted to do this summer.

The children - along with their friends, one of whom was in a wheelchair - set up the stand and were proudly selling their wares. Green briefly left the pool to return home and noticed an unfamiliar white car parked outside the party. Two girls were seated in the car, one more was hanging out by the gate to the pool area. When he went back in to the party, he saw yet another girl over at the table, talking to the young children. He went up to her and started a conversation, explaining to her why the children were selling them, and what they hoped to do with the profits.

A few moments later, after he had left the area, he heard them yelling and crying. The girl, they claimed, had stolen the small box with the money in it, ran out the gate, hopped in the white car, and sped off with her friends, making off with nearly $150 in cash.

That is when the young kids went into total NCIS mode. One of the brothers of the robbery victims said he had seen her before, and thought she went to nearby Sprayberry High School. They borrowed someone's iPhone and got on the website for the high school. They found a picture of the cheerleading team, and one of the girls in the picture looked a lot like the suspect. Just to be certain, they then went to Facebook and typed in the name of their suspect, the aptly named Chelsea Steele.

Bingo. They called the police, told them what had happened, and presented them with their evidence.

The police tracked down Ms. Steele, aged 17, and she admitted her guilt. And all of a sudden the "Cheerleader Steals From Kid In a Wheelchair" stories began flying all over the Internet. "Chelsea Steele" the 13th most popular search term on Google one day.

Local television stations covered the case with gusto. The kids were - get this - flown to New York City with their father to be interviewed by Meredith Vieira on the Today show. The segment featured Chelsea's mugshot, with the voice over saying, "Give me a T! Give me an H! Give me an I! Give me an E! Give me an F!"

Chelsea is free on $5000 bond. Originally, she was the only person charged, but the police are noticing that the other girls' stories are not really adding up. The police announced they would be interviewing the other girls again, and that more charges could be pending. Ms. Steele - described as a "rising" student at Sprayberry - has been charged with robbery and underage drinking.

Chelsea has offered up an apology. And like all good, heartfelt apologies it was offered through her attorney. And in the spirit of true repentance, she has offered to pay the money back - if they drop the charges.

Here's a better idea, Chelsea. Go see the families affected by your crime and personally apologize for your actions. Vow to work all summer to raise money for the children, so that their summer dreams can come true. And at no point should you ever even hint that they should drop the charges.

The sheer stupidity of this crime is staggering, and it almost reinforces the theme that this had to be a one-shot deal. No one could be this dumb on a regular basis.

She is from a nearby high school. She was known by people at the party. She spoke to one of the parents at the party. And then she stole the box in broad daylight, right out of the hands (figuratively) of a kid in a wheelchair. And she tried to get away.

In a way, I feel sorry for her, but that is mostly likely due to the fact I have daughters myself. Pinching $150 from a neighborhood party is hardly worth becoming infamous the world over. But so brazen a crime was almost an open invitation for getting caught. I'm guessing her cheerleading days are over. And I'm guessing she will pay for this crime in ways that will far outlast any term of community service the is most assuredly coming her way.

I hope that in the long run, something very good comes of this for young Chelsea Steele.