Donna Tallent, a 72-year-old victim of a violent attack and carjacking, is expressing outrage at what she considers a lenient punishment for one of the young suspects involved in the crime. Surveillance images captured the harrowing November night when two thieves beat Tallent with a gun and stole her car from the backyard of her Baltimore County home. The suspects were identified as two boys, aged 15 and 16.

While police apprehended the suspects the day after the attack, it took weeks for Tallent’s injuries to heal. A magistrate in juvenile court recently sentenced the 15-year-old after he was found guilty of unauthorized use of a handgun. However, several other charges, including carjacking, were dismissed.

“He had the keys, he was seen getting out of my car. His phone was in my car, but yet, they can’t prove that he stole my car because they couldn’t prove he was at my house. There was no way to prove that he was here, I couldn’t identify him,” Tallent expressed her frustration.

As a result, the 15-year-old’s sentence for the unauthorized use of a handgun was a mere five months of probation, with one month requiring an ankle monitor, 50 hours of community service, and a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM.

Tallent believes the punishment does not fit the severity of the crime, stating, “Because (the suspect) took so much out of my life for three months. (I) had to go to therapy for dizziness because anytime I would look up for any length of time, I’d look up, and the next thing, I’m dizzy.”

Meanwhile, Tallent awaits the court proceedings for the second suspect, the 16-year-old, who is being charged as an adult. His case is set for trial in June, though his attorney is fighting to have the case transferred back to juvenile court, with a hearing scheduled for May.

“They’ve got to come down harder on these kids. If they don’t get them now, they’re going to be in jail again,” Tallent warned, emphasizing the need for stricter consequences to prevent future criminal behavior.

The case has reignited discussions surrounding the appropriate punishment for juvenile offenders and the balance between rehabilitation and accountability for violent crimes.