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No TV, Games For Girls Who Trashed Chick-fil-A Founder's Home

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The Associated Press

Published: August 1, 2008

NEW SMYRNA BEACH - Chick-fil-A restaurant founder S. Truett Cathy has decided two girls accused of causing $30,000 in damage to his home should be punished with a writing assignment instead of charges.

In a deal Cathy worked out with their parents, the girls must write "I will not vandalize other people's property" 1,000 times. They're also banned from watching TV and playing video games and must read a good book.

New Smyrna Beach police told the Daytona Beach News-Journal the preteens broke into Cathy's home two weeks ago and sprayed fire extinguishers, threw eggs and left water running in the kitchen.

The 87-year-old Cathy - who founded the Atlanta-based fast food chain known for its cow billboards - said he didn't want to prosecute the girls and leave them with a criminal record.

"I tried to be lenient with them, but wanted to punish them," Cathy said. "I wanted to show them there was a better way than the way they were going."

Police say the girls entered through an open back door at the home known as the Chick-fil-A Lodge between July 11 and 15. Police say they also had a food fight on the tennis court and poured vegetable oil on a dining room table so they could use it as a "slip and slide."

Cathy said what upset him most were "bad words" scrawled throughout the house.

The girls told investigators they were bored when they broke in.

Cathy said he doesn't want them to pay him back.

"I am not after money, I am after their attention," he said. "I want them to realize the importance of a good name and reputation."

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