A courtroom fell silent as a teenage boy was sentenced to an astonishing 985 years in prison — a punishment so extreme it left even the judge visibly tense. The teen, found guilty of multiple violent crimes, stood frozen as the sentence was read. Overwhelmed and in disbelief, he struggled to process what would be the rest of his life behind bars.

The moment, caught on camera, quickly went viral and sparked fierce debate online. Some say justice was served; others argue that such a sentence for a juvenile offers no path for redemption. The case has reignited tough questions about punishment, rehabilitation, and the limits of the justice system — especially for minors.

In a separate courtroom in Cook County, another teen found himself in the middle of a very different legal drama. A 15-year-old, who had suffered abuse from both parents, was set to be placed with his aunt — until he shocked the judge by claiming she was even more abusive. When the judge suggested his grandparents instead, the boy cried, saying they too had hurt him.

After hearing that abuse was common across the family, the judge made an unusual move: he asked the boy who he wanted to live with. After a pause, the teen answered — the New York Knicks, explaining, “They can’t beat anyone.”

Following a legal review and laughter across the courtroom, the judge granted the Knicks temporary custody — a bittersweet but clever moment in a day full of emotion.