The charge of child abuse is a bit of a stretch.

This is a fantastic story that deserves national attention. With the legal system the way it is in the U.S. it would be so easy to send Mr. Miller to jail and take him for all he's worth. Far more petty lawsuits have resulted in unwarranted rewards for the prosecution, time and again. It's so refreshing to see a story of forgiveness--victims seeing the situation for what it's really worth, not what it could be worth to them.

Kudos to Mindy Carter Shaw, and best of luck with Bridger's recovery!

A guy illegally uses explosives to make a firework in a metal container that turns into a pipe bomb that maims and nearly kills a child. He then tries to avoid detection for the incident. And the problem with taking him to court is???

I agree with you and Kudos to you for your comment!

And to Bridger's mom: You are an example for everybody. To forgive is the key to being healed and your example is no doubt helping your son. To bad the prosecuting attorney can't be more like you.

Accidents happen...

The greatest commandment is to love your neighboor. This woman lives this in spaces.

Although I believe in this, I admit she has me beat.

I wish religion would focus on this instead of all the other pittly things religions tell us to do and not to do. It would surely be a better world and people would be freed up to live their lives rather than have a suffocating set of rules their religion gives them to live by.

No doubt Mindy Shaw is a good person. I wish we could all be more like her. In this case, however, it is not Mindy Shaw vs Craig Miller. Is is the State of Utah vs Miller. Miller aledgedly violated the laws of the State and that is what the trial is all about. I believe that what he did is criminal and he should be punished by the state whose laws he offended.

First, reagrding relligion's set of suffocating rules, you need to understand that religion IS rules. It is about controlling our animal instincts and overcoming harmful behaviors. I suggest you read Mere Christianity by C.S.Lewis before you make such ill-informed statements.

Second, while accidents happen, government is there to control how we interact towards others so we don't harm others or infringe upon their rights. While prison is a bit excessive here, a fine and serious community service is very appropriate for this careless behavior that seriously infringed upon this young boy's life ANd upon society indirectly.

Kudos to all comments - child abuse? That is ridiculous- Mr.Miller did not intentionally hurt that child or anyone. We all do occassional stupid things - we sure have some slap happy judges out there who are over zelous in their attempts to accuse anyone of overexcessive wrongdoing. Mr.Miller will live with this every moment for the rest of his life - isn't that punishmente enough?

Maybe this kids mom feels ok with letting the bomb maker get a pass, but what about the parents of other kids in the neighborhood? They should have a say as well. They should be able to know that the bomb maker has been appropriately punished and that others who are considering the making of bombs know that if they are careless or negligent, they will face harsh penalties if they injure others.

How can you ignore the construction of a pipe bomb, "illegal" not just the injuries it caused, the mere construction was a crime. Putting it in a pipe is total irresponsibility. How can you all just forgive him, when the young man will spend the rest of his life dealing with the injuries, for what? So some idiot can make a homemade bomb? This is ridiculous and they just cannot make it serious enough. I would be in favor of 2nd Degree murder charges, because accident or not, like a Drunk driver if you commit a crime with malice and disregard for the safety of others you have commited Homicide.

Prosecutors don't have the luxury of taking the "forgive and forget" approach. They are charged with the responsibility to objectively evaluate facts to determine whether laws have been broken. This man clearly broke the law. No matter how you justify it (and whether or not you choose to forgive it), making a home-made explosive device is illegal and should never be condoned. This situation is a perfect example. We are all fortunate that Bridger and others were not killed. To suggest that the prosecutor should simply look the other way is to suggest that he ignore his statutory duty and the oath he took to uphold the law. Certainly leniency and forgiveness have their place, but that place is at a sentencing hearing. It is inspiring that Bridger's mother has forgiven the man who maimed her son, and it is a virtual certainty that the prosecutor and the judge will take her feelings and example into account at the time of sentencing.

The mother's forgiveness of the bomb-maker is perfectly understandable, because anything else is
nonproductive. Miller has promised lots to the family, including selling his own home to help pay the medical bills. Whether a civil suit is in the future, remains to be seen.

However, the law is the law. Explosive fireworks are illegal in Utah - and Miller created something even worse. He did so with other children around (child abuse charges), he attempted to hide evidence (obstruction of justice), and he built an illegal device (self-explanatory).

Let both systems work.

Understanding that the law must have its justice, compassion should rule here, as Shaw herself is asking. Mr. Miller's worth is much greater to Shaw and the community if he's not in jail. He's pledged to sell his belongings and to work for the rest of his life to support Bridger's needs. He cannot effectively do that behind bars, so thus the Shaw family continues to suffer. Certainly the law will enforce its consequences.

As I see it the only real misjudgement here is that the powder was put into a metal tube. How many people in Utah illegally discharge the same powder purchased outside of Utah? The only difference there is that that powder is in a cardboard tube rather than a metal one.

Enough of this. We're all hypocrites. Let him who is guiltless cast the first stone. That means that only someone who COMPLETELY obeys ALL the laws deserves to comment one way or another on this matter. I guarantee that every single one of us is not eligible to do so. We may violate law in what we deem insignificant ways, like speeding, but that makes us all just as guilty as Mr. Miller!

Prosecuters frequently determine the penalty a criminal act receives because prosecuters decide what laws to prosecute the accused with. Plea bargains are part of this equation.

The fact that prosecuters opted to charge Miller with child abuse indicates that the prosecuters decided to go to extreems. Charging a man with 'obstructing justice' when he was just cleaning up after the incident (giving no thought to idea that cleaning up might be viewed as hiding evidence) is also an over reach.

Many are calling for revenge in this case. They have cause to repent.

Miller knows what he did was wrong. He feels true sorrow for it. He is doing what he can to make restitution. He has confessed his error. It is very doubtful that he will ever repeat this act. If that is good enough for God, it should be good enough for everyone.

Hang 'em high, prosecutors! Your fame will spread far and wide, and you might even get a promotion!

if explosive fireworks were illegal there wouldn't be any fireworks

Good for the family in forgiving him. That doesn't excuse the fact that the guy essentially made a pipe bomb. Whether or not he intended to make something else is irrelevant--he MADE a pipe bomb. What happens when we catch someone actually TRYING to make pipe bomb and they just say they were trying to make homemade fireworks?

The fact that the victims forgive him doesn't negate the fact that this guy's stupidity nearly killed someone. It doesn't negate the fact that he made a PIPE BOMB. I can't stress that enough.

If you want to have compassion for him, AFTER he's convicted you can decide to give the guy a job as having a felony on his record will make that kind of hard.

Been There said it best. Great to forgive but there are consequences.

To Compassion: Dude, I want you on my jury if I am ever charged with anything. But then again, if we followed your philosophy there would be no trials because we are all guilty of something and therefore unable to pass judgment. Sweet. Might as well disband the law enforcement organizations. It would be inappropriate to bring anything to trial as you could never find a jury worthy to hear the case. Maybe you are suggesting that only children 8 years and younger should be impaneled on juries.

For goodness sakes people, it was not a bomb - the police agreed. For those saying it was a pipe bomb, you have no idea what a pipe bomb is. This was a homemade firework that was constructed in a metal pipe so that it would be "safe" and not be able to explode. It obviously went terribly wrong, but don't call it something it wasn't.

Utahns: Pro-life before birth, pro-death after birth.

To Get real people:

You need to deal with your anger and hatred issues. Nothing the system will do will make Mr Miller hurt anymore than living with what he did. This mom is an example of Christlike love unlike any other I have seen

This is not murder or attempted murder. If you actually read the story you will see that Bridger Hunt is alive and recovering. You will also see that Bridger himself doesn't want the guy to "get in trouble". Why should others be so vindictive if the VICTIM isn't. Take a page from Bridger's book and forgive others.

I used to work with Craig many years ago in American Fork. This is a case of a good person doing a careless thing. The fact that the defendant is a good person doesn't minimize the pain and suffering of the victim.

I just hope everything somehow works out for everyone.

to Justice:

Pipe bombs are enclosed and sealed on both ends with the powder packed solid inside with the intent that the thing will explode.

This was powder poured into a pipe and left open on one end with the intent of producing a sparkly fountain. It had been used twice previously. There was nothing to suggest that the thing wouldn't work a third time.

Call it reckless, call it irresponsible, call it stupid but please, please, stop calling it a pipe bomb.

It's not going to bother me if he's convicted for reckless endangerment. But convicted for creating a bomb is excessive.

I'm just glad I'm not the judge on this one.

If you are seriously suggesting that Mr. Miller should not be prosecuted because he's sorry and the victim's mother has found it in her heart to forgive him, then by that same logic, we shouldn't prosecute the man who recently admitting to punching and slamming and ultimately killing his 2-year old child because he was sorry too and his wife (who was also the victim's mother) had forgiven him. Obviously, that would (and should) cause outrage. The fact that Mr. Miller did not intend to harm anyone is not legally relevant. He intentionally committed the act of creating the explosive device, just as the man who killed his child intentionally hit him. The fact that this case had a more fortunate outcome is by the grace of God. The law requires that people be accountable for their conduct. If you start making exceptions for Mr. Miller, where does it end? You can't have it both ways. It's not about being vindictive. It's about enforcing the law.

The crime and the degree of punishment need to be measured by intent, not just consequence. And for the accused, the crime needs to be paid in terms of consequence, not just intent.

who are we not to?

Let's see... a homemade firework (black powder obviously) placed in a metal pipe. Not a pipe bomb? To make a pipe bomb, you place black powder in a pipe and explode it. GET IT??? Powder + pipe = pipe bomb.
God Bless victim and his family. They are examples of courage and goodness. The state is right to prosecute.

You've just clarified your ignorance for everyone in the area of pipe bombs. Read Mela's comments. A pipe bomb is a fully closed system. This wasn't and there is a huge difference.

I personally am really happy that the family could forgive and forget. We should all take that example and stop blaming everyone else for our own problems. Love can overcome hatred. Thank you for showing that there are still very Christlike people out there. Remember the man who did this still has to live with himself. He has probably beaten himself up more than any prison sentence could ever do.

So, if the police apprehend someone making a pipe bomb before they finish it, it's not a pipe bomb? Just because someone didn't screw a cap on it doesn't mean it's not a pipe bomb. The cap doesn't need to be on for an explosion to occur (as in Bridger's accident). I'm sure intent will be taken into account during sentencing, but it was a PIPE BOMB, plain and simple. I'm not looking to ruin the guy's life but call it what it is.

Given the intent, the victim's reluctance to see the guy punished and the fact that the kid is going to be (relatively) ok, I don't see this guy getting much more than probation and a fine.

Did you run a red light today? Did you take a drink and drive? These are also against the law and can and do cause horrible accidents and even death. If you harm a child under these circumstances is it child abuse or an accident? Bridger's mom has the right idea, forgiveness! Wouldn't you want to be forgiven if it were you? Haven't you ever done something stupid that may have cause harm? Until you examine yourself, don't be so quick to judge. And if Mr. Miller does not go to prison, he would be more good outside, continue working to help/or pay hospital bills, help with physical therepy if the family so wishes. Perhaps forgiveness and love would heal both parties. Hate and revenge should not exist. And for all the religious, I belive it states "vengence is Mine, say the Lord." Let's live it, not just preach it.

Maybe if the authorities had investigated and prosecuted the guy(s) that twice destroyed my mail box with explosives in Springville about 10 years ago Mr. Miller wouldn't have done what he did. NOT. The prosectution's claim of a desire for deterence rings hollow when they leave so many crimes uninvestigated and unprosecuted. Mr. Miller is just an easy target so they are going after him. Strikes me as laziness not justice nor law enforcement. The reason he is an easy target is that he is NOT a criminal.

This is a wonderful story. Thank you.

Mr Miller should face some sort of punishment. He committed a crime even if the family forgave him. I think it is wonderful that the family could find it in their hearts to forgive him. That would be a really tough thing to do. It shows what a good family they are. My prayers go out to the family and to Mr Miller!

What a Christ like example his mom is showing us. Thank you for being an inspiration to me!

Wow he should not go to jail he was just being creative and expressing his creativeness by making a firework he is awesome. But what I don't get is if he set off a firework why would he be on his bike 30 feet away. hmmm interesting. and how would it go that far.... hmmmm interesting. And wait was it him who made the firework or just got hit? hmm interesting. This is a hard thing to think about I'm going to go lie down.

It was not a "bomb", it just acted like one. A bomb by definition in an explosive fused to detonate under specified conditions.

Let's say you've got a rifle and it somehow misfires and the barrel explodes in your face. Is THAT a pipe bomb?

Yes, what he did was illegal, but what happened was bottom line a tragic accident. Get out of the city and live in a small town for a while, mischief like this happens all the time.

Wow, what a touching story. You are a better person than me girl....

The "device" was not meant to be a bomb or a fireworks fountain. It was an 18" long piece of 4" square tube steel welded to a flat base of plate steel. Craig was using it like a canon that was going boom-not just sputtering out sparks on the previous firings. When the thing let go he had used so much black powder the explosion shook the windows of the police station 2 miles away.

I can't believe that some of you people actually think it is okay to just let this guy go because the Mother has forgiven him. That doesn't mean a thing except it gives her some closure. This guy almost killed a little boy and what would have happened if there were more kids around or someone closer to the bomb. Yes I said bomb. There has to be accountability somewhere. I also don't think that the child abuse charge is overeaching. He intentionally put people at risk because of his arrogance and stupidity, and one or more of them were children. How many kids live in the neighborhood. That is as many child abuse charges that should be brought against him as well as maybe attempted murder charhges for everyone else. Ignorance does not excuse a crime. That's just my 2 cents.

The resolution of this story requires two parts: one is forgiveness by the victims, which seems to have occurred, and the second is the fulfilling of the law. Whether the victim forgives or not, the law must be obeyed. The second part is easier to endure if forgiveness blesses the punishment. The judge, using our laws, must punish Mr. Miller-even for Mr. Miller's benefit, but not so harsh that the Bridger and his mother become more victimized by losing the support of the perpetrator.