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Hernando Teen's Rapping Leads To Arrest

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

Updated: 02/06/2008 04:55 pm

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - Christopher Holder said he was just rapping, but now he's got a rap sheet.

The Hernando County teenager acknowledged he repeated a sexual expletive several times near a woman and her children prior to his misdemeanor arrest Sunday, deputies say. He told them he merely was parroting a rap song.

Holder, 19, of Brooksville, told deputies he was shouting out a Lil' Boosie rap song before his arrest on charges of disorderly conduct and breach of peace at 7443 Gordon Loop, authorities said.

Christopher Holder

Holder "used the profane language numerous times in front of the victim, Amy Churchill, and her three children," an arrest report states. "A sworn written statement was completed by the victim, outraging her sense of public decency and affecting her and her children's peace and quiet."

Prior to his arrest, Holder argued he did nothing wrong and that he merely was singing a song, according to the report.

He did agree, however, that he didn't think children needed to hear foul language.

"I understand that cussing is wrong but parents cuss every day at their kids," Holder said on Wednesday, "and for taking someone to the jail for it I think that's a violation of your rights."

Churchill, who is part of her neighborhood's crime watch, told the deputy she was offended and asked that Holder be arrested. She said her five-year-old daughter was walking the dog and her 12-year-old was riding his bike.

"This is the kind of things that I don't like," Churchill said on Wednesday. "This is the kinds of things that I want to clean up in my neighborhood. Why should they have to hear this?"

If someone knowingly screams curse words around others, that could affect the peace and quiet of an unwilling listener and be probable cause for a disorderly conduct charge, First Amendment lawyer Luke Lirot said.

Lirot said, however, that if the person cursing is repeating lyrics of a song that hasn't been declared obscene, he has a much-stronger defense.

Holder was taken to the Hernando County jail without incident. He has since been released.

Channel 8 reporter Claudia DoCampo contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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