NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Even though they were accused of trashing his home by spraying fire extinguishers, throwing eggs and leaving the water running in the kitchen after break-in in mid-July, Chick-fil-A restaurant founder S. Truett Cathy didn't want to see three pre-teen girls have juvenile records so he came up with an alternative punishment in a deal with their parents: They each had to write 1,000 times, "I will not vandalize other people's property."
The girls also were not allowed to watch TV or play video games for six months and each had to read a book.
The 87-year-old entrepreneur said he saw this alternative punishment as a way to teach the girls, accused of $30 worth of damage to his home, a valuable lesson and give them a chance to redeem themselves and avoid almost certain criminal prosecution in juvenile court.