Honor student does jail time for truancy

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WILLIS, Texas, May 27 (UPI) -- A Texas high school honor student spent a night in jail because she missed too many days of school due to working two jobs to support her siblings.

Diane Tran, 17, works a full-time job, a part-time job and takes honors classes at Willis (Texas) High School and on Wednesday spent a night in jail for truancy, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, reported Satuday.

Tran is working to support her older brother who is in college and her younger sister who lives with relatives. Her parents, who are divorced, and are moved out of town, the news report said.

In court Wednesday, Tran was given a sentenced of 24 hours in jail and ordered to pay a $100 fine.

Judge Lanny Moriarty admitted he wanted to make an example out of her.

"If you let one run loose, what are you gonna' do with the rest of 'em?," Moriarty said. "Let them go too? A little stay in the jail for one night is not a death sentence."

Tran's case has people across the country expressing support for the teenager who says she may want to be a doctor some day, KHOU-TV, Houston, reported.

"Now this girl's got a record, which could hamper her later in life," said David Byrne of the Woodlands, Texas. "My immediate reaction was there's something wrong here, so that's when I got in touch with you guys."

People are also speaking out on Facebook.

"Don't you feel safer now that an honors student has been thrown in jail? This is ridiculous," posted Bill Palmer.

Tran lives with the family of her part-time employer, who are trying to set up a fund in her name at a local bank.