Boy Sentenced in Pokemon Card Theft

A 14-year-old boy accused of running over a schoolmate with his bicycle and stealing 150 Pokemon cards was sentenced Thursday to probation and ordered to pay $100 in restitution to the victim, prosecutors said.

The boy, who was not identified because he is a minor, also is required to complete 10 days of community work and 70 hours of voluntary service with local charities as part of his punishment, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Kang.

The victim and his family were unavailable for comment, but Kang said they agreed with the sentence, which was worked out after the boy agreed to admit to grand theft.

“They were friends at one point and [the family] felt the plea was more appropriate rather than robbery,” Kang said.

Shortly after the Oct. 14 incident, authorities had charged the boy with robbery, which calls for up to five years in juvenile detention. Under the terms of the boy’s probation, he is not allowed to have contact with the victim, carry any weapons or have unexcused absences from school.

The cards, colorful collectibles based on characters of a popular Japanese animation program and video game, have been a source of headaches for school officials around the country. Some schools have banned the cards, contending that they disrupt classes and ignite playground brawls.

Pokemon’s more than 150 characters--with names like Picachu, Charizard and Wigglytuff--adorn the cards, which can fetch as much as $100 in the aftermarket.

The boys were both 13 at the time and attending Vista View Middle School in Fountain Valley. According to authorities, they met after school and talked briefly about their Pokemon card collections. After they parted ways, one of the boys turned toward the other on his bicycle, struck him and fled with the cards.