See You Later

I don't know this kid or his history, but I'm not sure he deserves facing a felony charge for what seems like a youthful, albeit misguided, prank. And yes, given the time of the event - 1:20 a.m. - I'm sure alcohol was involved.

Man charged with throwing alligator into Wendy's drive-through

Alligators have been used as shoes, briefcases, university mascots, lunch and now, authorities say, a deadly weapon.

Joshua James, 24, was arrested Monday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officials say he threw a 3 1/2-foot-long alligator through a Wendy's drive-through window in Palm Beach County...

Wildlife officer Nicholas Guerin said in his report that James drove his pickup truck to the window at about 1:20 a.m. Oct. 11. After an employee handed James his drink, he threw the alligator through the window and drove off. No one was hurt...

Guerin wrote that James admitted throwing the alligator in a December interview. He said James told him he had found the alligator on the side of the road and put it in his truck.

James P. Ross, a professor emeritus at the University of Florida's Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, said a 3 1/2-foot alligator would likely weigh about 20 to 30 pounds, and its hard body could deliver quite a jolt if it struck someone.

He said the gator's bite would be comparable to a dog's and would be unlikely to cause serious injury or snap off a finger, although it could tear tendons. Perhaps the biggest concern would be infection if a bite went untreated, he said.

Side note:

Q: How do you tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?
A: You'll see one later, and the other after a while .

Q: What do you call a thieving alligator?
A: A crookodile.

A man walked into a Florida bar with his alligator and asked the bartender, "Do you serve lawyers here?"

The bartender replied, "Sure."

The man said, "Good. One beer for me and a lawyer for my alligator."

Sorry.

Anyway...

I've done stupider things in the wee hours of the morning after more beers than was wise. Punish the guy by making him mop the Wendys restrooms after it closes, or by having him tend to the gators at the local zoo, or something along those lines. Don't saddle him with a felony for booze-induced bad judgement.

Booze-induced bad judgement. That's what led to my first marriage...