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American Morning

Teen Jailed for Violation of Restraining Order Sought by Girlfriend's Parents

Aired February 24, 2004 - 07:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This next story sounds like something out of "Romeo and Juliet," but it's actually a case of young love and it landed a Massachusetts teenager in jail.
Kevin Bucchio was 17 when he fell in love with a 14-year-old girl, but his girlfriend's parents went to court to keep the two of them apart. After he repeatedly violated a restraining order, a judge sentenced Bucchio to three years in jail. Kevin's mother says the boy was simply following his heart, that the punishment is just too severe.

Sandra Bucchio joins us from Watertown, Massachusetts, along with Kevin's attorney, Matthew Pingeton.

Thanks for being with us, both of you.

I really appreciate it.

MATTHEW PINGETON, ATTORNEY FOR KEVIN BUCCHIO: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Sandra, let's begin with you.

Your son so far has served six months in a correctional facility. He's 18 years old now.

How is he doing? How's he holding up?

SANDRA BUCCHIO, SON JAILED FOR COURTING TEENAGER: He's doing OK now. He kind of had a rough time when he first got in there. I often go to visit him, three or four times a week. And he's, you know, he has good days and bad days.

O'BRIEN: The case is very complicated. Your son was dating a 14-year-old girl and after the girl's parents told the two of them to break up several times, they finally went to court to get a restraining order against your son.

What happened after that?

BUCCHIO: They got the restraining order. It was issued. And they would, she'd call Kevin or he'd call her and they'd get together again, they'd go to the movies or hang out with their friends or whatever. And the next thing we were back in court and it was one thing after another. And before I knew it, it was just one big nightmare. O'BRIEN: He violated that restraining order not just once, because he got a warning; and not just twice, because he was then sentenced to six months in prison; but another time after that, when finally the judge sentenced him to an additional two and a half years in jail.

I guess the question is why would your son, who's not a young, young man, why would he not get the message that there are going to be legal ramifications for what he's doing with this young woman?

BUCCHIO: I'm not quite sure if he understood the whole purpose, you know, the whole purpose of the restraining order and all. And he, you know, he -- I, sitting here today I often think back and look back and, you know, I talked with him and, you know, he -- they just believe they're in love. And, you know, she, she would initiate, she would call or she would e-mail, write him letters, you know. So it was both ways. It just wasn't just Kevin.

O'BRIEN: Mr. Pingeton, as we mentioned, you are Kevin's attorney. And you have said you believe that this sentence, now three years total for this young man to be serving in jail, is unduly harsh.

Why do you think that's the case, as opposed to some who say hey, it's the letter of the law, he was given several warnings, he violated a restraining order, it's pretty darned clear?

PINGETON: Right. That is, it's a valid point. However, if you look at the big issue, I think the main point here is that, our argument is that the restraining order should not have been issued in the first place and if they were not issued, then obviously Mr. Bucchio would not have been put in jeopardy for one day in jail.

O'BRIEN: Is there any indication -- and from what we're hearing from Kevin's mom, this was not the case, but I just want a confirmation of this -- that the girl did not want any attention, that the attention was unwanted or that there were any issues with statutory rape, which, of course, as you well know, would change this entire case?

PINGETON: Right. Well, the record shows that the young lady had always wanted contact with Kevin and that, in fact, the record also shows that she did not want this restraining order. It was her parents that sought the restraining order in order to control the dating habits of their daughter.

O'BRIEN: So what happens next? Sandra, what do you think would be a fair punishment for your son, who, as you clearly note, has gone against the wishes of the court? What do you think would be the right thing to happen?

BUCCHIO: I think he's learned a lot. He's, I basically hope he's not going to be in there much longer. You know, I guess the only thing that I can say is that the worst that it's going to be is that he's going to have to stay there and face, you know, another two years in there. But, you know, I'm just hoping and praying that, you know, Matt's going to do his best and hopefully Kevin will be home soon. O'BRIEN: We'll see what happens as the wheels keep turning legally.

Thanks to both of you for being with us.

PINGETON: Thank you very much.

BUCCHIO: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: And our best for you in this case.

It's obviously very complicated.

Thanks.

PINGETON: Thank you.

BUCCHIO: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Girlfriend's Parents>


Aired February 24, 2004 - 07:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This next story sounds like something out of "Romeo and Juliet," but it's actually a case of young love and it landed a Massachusetts teenager in jail.
Kevin Bucchio was 17 when he fell in love with a 14-year-old girl, but his girlfriend's parents went to court to keep the two of them apart. After he repeatedly violated a restraining order, a judge sentenced Bucchio to three years in jail. Kevin's mother says the boy was simply following his heart, that the punishment is just too severe.

Sandra Bucchio joins us from Watertown, Massachusetts, along with Kevin's attorney, Matthew Pingeton.

Thanks for being with us, both of you.

I really appreciate it.

MATTHEW PINGETON, ATTORNEY FOR KEVIN BUCCHIO: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Sandra, let's begin with you.

Your son so far has served six months in a correctional facility. He's 18 years old now.

How is he doing? How's he holding up?

SANDRA BUCCHIO, SON JAILED FOR COURTING TEENAGER: He's doing OK now. He kind of had a rough time when he first got in there. I often go to visit him, three or four times a week. And he's, you know, he has good days and bad days.

O'BRIEN: The case is very complicated. Your son was dating a 14-year-old girl and after the girl's parents told the two of them to break up several times, they finally went to court to get a restraining order against your son.

What happened after that?

BUCCHIO: They got the restraining order. It was issued. And they would, she'd call Kevin or he'd call her and they'd get together again, they'd go to the movies or hang out with their friends or whatever. And the next thing we were back in court and it was one thing after another. And before I knew it, it was just one big nightmare. O'BRIEN: He violated that restraining order not just once, because he got a warning; and not just twice, because he was then sentenced to six months in prison; but another time after that, when finally the judge sentenced him to an additional two and a half years in jail.

I guess the question is why would your son, who's not a young, young man, why would he not get the message that there are going to be legal ramifications for what he's doing with this young woman?

BUCCHIO: I'm not quite sure if he understood the whole purpose, you know, the whole purpose of the restraining order and all. And he, you know, he -- I, sitting here today I often think back and look back and, you know, I talked with him and, you know, he -- they just believe they're in love. And, you know, she, she would initiate, she would call or she would e-mail, write him letters, you know. So it was both ways. It just wasn't just Kevin.

O'BRIEN: Mr. Pingeton, as we mentioned, you are Kevin's attorney. And you have said you believe that this sentence, now three years total for this young man to be serving in jail, is unduly harsh.

Why do you think that's the case, as opposed to some who say hey, it's the letter of the law, he was given several warnings, he violated a restraining order, it's pretty darned clear?

PINGETON: Right. That is, it's a valid point. However, if you look at the big issue, I think the main point here is that, our argument is that the restraining order should not have been issued in the first place and if they were not issued, then obviously Mr. Bucchio would not have been put in jeopardy for one day in jail.

O'BRIEN: Is there any indication -- and from what we're hearing from Kevin's mom, this was not the case, but I just want a confirmation of this -- that the girl did not want any attention, that the attention was unwanted or that there were any issues with statutory rape, which, of course, as you well know, would change this entire case?

PINGETON: Right. Well, the record shows that the young lady had always wanted contact with Kevin and that, in fact, the record also shows that she did not want this restraining order. It was her parents that sought the restraining order in order to control the dating habits of their daughter.

O'BRIEN: So what happens next? Sandra, what do you think would be a fair punishment for your son, who, as you clearly note, has gone against the wishes of the court? What do you think would be the right thing to happen?

BUCCHIO: I think he's learned a lot. He's, I basically hope he's not going to be in there much longer. You know, I guess the only thing that I can say is that the worst that it's going to be is that he's going to have to stay there and face, you know, another two years in there. But, you know, I'm just hoping and praying that, you know, Matt's going to do his best and hopefully Kevin will be home soon. O'BRIEN: We'll see what happens as the wheels keep turning legally.

Thanks to both of you for being with us.

PINGETON: Thank you very much.

BUCCHIO: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: And our best for you in this case.

It's obviously very complicated.

Thanks.

PINGETON: Thank you.

BUCCHIO: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Girlfriend's Parents>