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September 6th, 2010
05:04 PM ET

Texting teens get the wrong number – a REALLY wrong number

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(CNN) - Two Montana teenagers texting in search of some marijuana got the wrong number. Seriously wrong. They wound up messaging the local sheriff, and he messaged right back.

"They were one number off," Lewis and Clark County, Montana, Sheriff Leo Dutton told CNN. "Luck of the draw."

Dutton said the 15- and 16-year-old boys mistakenly sent him a text message on August 25 that read, "hey dawg, do you have 20 i can buy right now?" At first, Dutton said he "thought it was a joke" but decided to continue the conversation by replying, "how much we talking?"

"I need 20 right now do you have any?" the teens allegedly texted back, unaware that the person they were communicating with was the chief law enforcement officer in the area.

Dutton said he handed the case over to a narcotics officer who arranged to meet the two teens later that day. After the officer showed his badge to the teens, one of the boys "got white and his knees started wobbling," Dutton said.

Although the teens were on record with their pot purchasing attempt, the sheriff says they won't face any charges.

The parents of both of teens "took immediate action" which played a big part in the decision not to charge the two, Dutton said without offering specifics of the parental punishment.

"If your goal is to put someone into the system and not try to correct the behavior, it seems like you are fighting the tide," Dutton told CNN. "The parents were going to do more to change their behavior than a criminal record. Changing behavior and making this a better place is what we're all about."

"We all make mistakes," the sheriff added. "Hopefully they'll use it as a stepping block instead of a stumbling stone, and they'll be better off in life."

Updated: 5:22 p.m.

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Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Gabe Falcon
soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. Di

    Mmm, guess it is a good thing I checked the # before sending the texts;)

    September 6, 2010 at 9:09 pm |
  2. LaTuya

    Bet the kids were white. If of color, they'd still be in jail.

    September 6, 2010 at 8:22 pm |
  3. Cris

    The Sheriff sounds like a good man.

    September 6, 2010 at 7:54 pm |
  4. Kevin

    Unless of course they are saying "Go Dawg's"...then they are just UGA fans.

    September 6, 2010 at 7:39 pm |
  5. bobster

    just say no!... Don't smoke pot and text at the same time. you text the law and law won.

    September 6, 2010 at 6:45 pm |
  6. Denny

    Relax dawg

    September 6, 2010 at 6:43 pm |
  7. Aezel

    How to tell if someone is a total and utter moron in five seconds: They use the word "dawg"

    September 6, 2010 at 6:22 pm |