Texas High School Senior Fined $637 for Cursing At School

Feb. 2, 2011 — -- High school senior Victoria Mullins is looking for a second job to help pay off a $637 fine she faces for cursing in class.

Police in Mesquite, Texas, have issued a warrant for the 18-year-old teen's arrest. The fine stems from a speech class gone awry in October of last year.

"I was in class and there was this boy here...he was really loud and obnoxious," Mullins said. "One day he said something to me and it really made me mad."

Mullins cursed at the male student telling him, "you trying to start s*** ," according to court documents.

Mullins' teacher, Michelle Lene, sent her to the principal's office.

"The teacher looked at me, but she didn't say anything," Mullins said. "The principal gave me a lunch detention and told me to watch my mouth and sent me back to class."

The North Mesquite High School student thought that was the end of her punishment, but she was wrong.

Lene told a school police officer that she was offended by the comment, according to a complaint signed by Lene.

When Mullins arrived at her next class, a school police officer handed her a ticket for $340 for disorderly conduct for using abusive language.

Mullins said that her teacher curses in class and that she shouldn't have been faulted for something the teacher does too.

"I don't understand how she could possibly be offended if she does the same thing," Mullins said.

Officials from Mullins' school refused to comment on the case. A spokesperson said that the matter is for the police and courts to resolve.

Mullins tried to switch classes after the incident so she wouldn't have to face Lene, but school officials wouldn't let her, she said.

Mullins entered a not guilty plea in October, according to court records. She tried to submit recordings of her teacher saying inappropriate things, but the court wouldn't allow the recordings because Lene did not know she was being recorded at the time.

The teen's fine has grown to $637 because she failed to show up for a court hearing last November. Mesquite police issued a warrant for her arrest on Jan. 21.

"I didn't have the money to pay for it, so I didn't go," she said.

Arrest Warrant for a exas Teen Who Cursed

The city of Mesquite issued a statement on the case saying that, "Ms. Mullins chose to use profanity in the classroom and was issued a citation at the request of a school teacher. She chose to plead not guilty and chose a trial by judge. Subsequently, Ms. Mullins chose not to appear in court."

Mullins' parents declined to discuss the case, and Mullins said that her parents refuse to help her pay the fine.

"They aren't happy about it. They just think that I should go pay for it and let it go," she said.

Mullins, who is a senior, is taking her parents' advice and has decided not to fight the ticket any more. Instead, she is working as a waitress and looking for a second job to pay off the fine.

"I understand that what I did was wrong. I don't think it should have gotten as far as me getting a ticket. The kids in class didn't even know I said the word," Mullins said.

Mullins has $100 saved to pay off the fine, she said. After the case is resolved, she hopes to go to college to study journalism.