A family of Bears (Andrew Tossi, Meagan Mojica and Noah Vogel) sat down for breakfast one morning only to discover Mama Bear had once again made the porridge way too hot to eat. Instead of waiting around for it to cool down, they got dressed and went for an early morning bike ride in the forest. Upon their arrival home, the Bears noticed the front door was wide open, their breakfast bowls had been tampered with, a chair was broken, money was missing and Mama Bear’s closet had been ransacked. They immediately called the Authorities.

The responding Police Officer (Peter Dejana) surveyed the scene, took the Bear family’s statements, gathered forensic evidence (a gray hair was found in Papa Bear’s porridge), then set about to unravel the mystery. Before long, a young woman from the neighborhood was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree, Trespassing in the 2nd degree and Petty Larceny. The suspect – Goldilocks (Bryanna Lobaz).

On Friday, February 15, 2008, Goldi went on trial at the Prince of Peace Catholic School in Sayville. Mrs. Marie Cronogue’s fifth grade class participated in the trial, and Mr. James Fallon Sr., Esq. acted as the presiding Judge in this case.

The Prosecutor (Grant Vogel) and Defense Lawyer (Brendan Bateman) addressed the Jury (4th graders: Alex Reilly, Meghan Boyle, Rebecca Bochicchio, Alexandra Wise, Shelby Brennan, Allison DiMauro, Chloe Palmaro, Thomas Puglisi, Remy Church, Tyrell Fasset, Brooks Fasset and Jordan Feliciano) then set about to call numerous witnesses and that’s when the fun & fur began to fly…

The Jury

While on the stand and under oath, the Bear family could not positively identify the suspect; they had only seen the back of a young girl with blonde hair wearing something red as she fled out a window. Local store owners Mr. Bass (Kyle Witzen) and his sister Miss Bass (Fiona Connolly) testified that Goldi had been in their store that day and seemed ‘out of breath, as if from running’. However, they too could not positively ID her – The Bass’ alas have hearing & vision problems … The Prosecution called the Big Bad Wolf (Daniel Bochicchio) to testify and he did more damage to himself than he did to Goldi, and when one of the 3 Blind Mice (Brendan Walsh) testified that the ‘high pitched voice’ he heard that day in the forest was ‘recognizable’, the Defense attorney pointed out that it didn’t have to be the voice of a young girl – it could have been his cousin Mickey Mouse. The Blind Mouse quickly folded, like a loosing poker hand, under the intense cross examination …

Defense & Prosecuting Attorneys and Goldi

Gingerbread Boy (Teddy Hollander) was in the forest that day, as well. He testified he was knocked down by a running girl, but that he was too worried about retrieving the brand new gumdrops which flew off of him as he fell, consequently he was not able to get a good look at the girl (new gumdrops aren’t cheap, you know!). It is a mystery to this reporter why Chicken Little (Katherine Reilly) was ever called as a witness for the Prosecution – she is always looking up, beak to the heavens, making sure the sky isn’t about to fall. It would have been a different story (for sure!) had the perpetrator descended in a parachute; then Chicken Little would’ve been the perfect eyewitness – but we all know that is not what happened.

Goldi, her lawyer & Witnesses

The Defense began by calling Goldi’s parents (Erin Henrich and Chance Bocelli) to testify as to their daughter’s character and her whereabouts on the morning in question. Their testimony on Goldi’s behalf was about as useful as a screen door in a submarine, but her mother did have on a fetching hat and matching boa. Little Red Riding Hood’s (William Priemer) testimony did little to help her (his) friend, the Sly Fox (Jacqueline Reid) did more damage to a witness for the Prosecution (the Big Bad Wolf) than she did good for Goldi and Rocky Raccoon (Evan Sandstrom) admitted under oath that he had entered the Bear’s home on other occasions seeking food and shelter. But that on the day in question he was neither awake (being nocturnal he sleeps during the day) nor hungry, so he had no idea who may have been in the Bear’s house.

Before the Defense rested their case the Wise Old Owl (Ryan Silver) was called and he swore that Goldilocks was not in the woods on the day in question, but when Goldi took the stand she did admit to entering the Bear’s house – without permission – but that she was not guilty of any of the other charges.

The Prince of Peace Regional Catholic School wishes to thank the Program Director/Instructor Mr. Glen M. Vogel, P.E., Esq. for his time, expertise and creativity in instructing the fifth grade students in this most educational and timely exercise of civic awareness and duty. Through the Goldilock’s Trial, the young minds of our children were awakened to our judicial system and the way in which it works in such a way as to make it real and understandable. Special thanks are also extended to Mr. Fallon for taking time out of his busy schedule to take on the role of the Judge – he was perfect in the role, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Fallon were to receive a phone call from Dick Wolf’s office …


Goldilock’s Letter of Apology to the Bear Family –

Dear Bear Family,
I am sincerely sorry for going into your house. I should have known it was wrong. This trial has taught me a valuable lesson. I will never go into your house without permission again.
Little Red and I should have listened to our parents and not gone into the woods. Next time I will knock on the door and if no one answers I will not go inside.
I hope you will forgive me.

Yours truly,
Goldilocks