Barranca Mesa Elementary School students from Samantha Waidler’s fourth grade class arrive Friday morning at the Los Alamos Justice Center for their mock trial in the case of the Three Little Pigs vs the Big Bad Wolf. In the end, the jury ruled in favor of the wolf. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Brendan De Roma is the presiding judge at Friday’s mock trial in Municipal Court. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.comThe case of The Pigs vs The Big Bad Wolf went to trial Friday in the Los Alamos Municipal Courtroom under the direction of Barranca Mesa Elementary School fourth grade teacher Samantha Waidler. The script for the mock trial was written by the students themselves and followed courtroom procedure very closely.
Judge Brendan De Roma told the court the wolf was charged with “attempted murder, breaking and entering with intent to devour, damaging property and general mayhem”. Prosecutors Christiana Chacon and Sophia Pieck explained what happened the day the wolf (Ethan Mondragon) showed up at the pigs’ house, that the pigs were “frightened for their lives and their property was severely damaged”.
Defense attorneys Dhruv Thulasidasan and Kathleen Brodnax argued that “pig is a main food in a wolf’s diet and that the wolf had eaten pigs in the past without being accused of attempted murder”. Of course, the pigs, Colette Bibeault, Sarah Berning and Estella Remillieux, and police officers Danalysa Rodriguez and Jenae Velarde testified to the wolf’s actions. Wolf expert Jonathan Chen testified that it is perfectly natural for a wolf to eat a pig. After lengthy deliberation in the jury room, the jury found the wolf not guilty.
Pete Mondragon, father of Ethan Mondragon, the wolf, joked that Ethan had just come out as a wolf that morning, that he is normally “the kindest kid”.
“I will confess that he loves chicharrones burritos,” he said with a grin.
Linda Tucker, Waidler’s mother, was on hand for the performance. A special education teacher, Tucker said the mock trial was very impressive. She recalled Waidler participating in a mock trial with the same theme at a young age.
“I am so proud of her as an educator now, being able to bring learning to a real-life location like the courtroom,” she said. “Teachers are so caught up with testing that it is great that she can do things like this and still meet the requirements of the Public Education Department. This is what public education should be.”
The students traveled to the Justice Center on a transit bus and ate lunch at Ashley Pond before returning to school.
The defense team for the mock trial includes Kathleen Broadnax and Dhruv Thulasidasan. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Prosecutors in the case include Christiana Chacon and Sophia Pieck. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Bailiff Hunter Cummings, left, with jury members for the mock trial including, from left, Allie Sullivan, Joey Floriano, Andres Sanchez, Sam Young, Cole Cummings, Dominic Martinez, Nick Simmonds, Andrew Morgan and Jace Kersteins. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Ethan Mondragon is the Big Bad Wolf in Friday’s mock trial. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Wolf expert Jonathan Chen testified for the defense. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Judge Brendan De Roma and Bailiff Hunter Cummings listen to testimony. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Colette Bibeault plays Bacon, one of the Three Little Pigs and makes her case against the Big Bad Wolf. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Estella Remillieux plays Oinky, one of the Three Little Pigs. She makes her case against the Big Bad Wolf. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Sarah Berniing plays Pinky, one of the Three Little Pigs and makes her case against the Big Bad Wolf. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Big Bad Wolf Ethan Mondragon awaits the jury’s verdict under the watchful eyes of his parents, Pete and Jacquelyn Mondragon. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Police officers Danalysa Rodriguez, left, and Janae Velarde maintain order in the court during Friday’s mock trial at the Los Alamos Justice Center. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Linda Tucker, the mother of teacher Samantha Waidler, discusses the trial with students. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Barranca Mesa fourth grade teacher Samantha Waider brings her class to the Justice Center Friday to participate in a mock trial. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
Samantha Waidler’s fourth grade class at Barranca Mesa Elementary gather behind the bench at the conclusion of Friday’s mock trial in which the Big Bad Wolf came out smelling like a rose. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com