Parents choose public punishment for teen's shoplifting

The parents of a 14-year-old boy in Canton say they punished their son for shoplifting by making him stand near a busy city intersection all day with a sign that described the theft.

Stepfather Eddie Harris says he and his wife wanted the boy to be embarrassed and to learn a lesson.



The boy stood outside Harris' barbershop on Thursday with a poster-board sign explaining how he had stolen a pair of $20 headphones from a department store, despite having the money to afford the merchandise.

Prosecutors are reviewing the case. The teen could face a juvenile charge of petty theft or the case could be handled informally by the court system without a formal charge.