The dismissed McMinnville case involving two 13-year-old boys who touched girls inappropriately at school has sparked intense and evolving reactions from members of the community, ranging from shock to approval and relief to disgust.

KGW photo

The two boys in court on Monday.

Since news broke Tuesday that attorneys for the boys plan to sue Yamhill County, police and the McMinnville School District, public opinion shared in a kgw.com survey has shifted away from sympathy for the perpetrators – seen initially by many as victims themselves of an overzealous legal system – toward criticism of the boys' parents.

“Before I read about the lawsuit, I thought dismissing the charges was the right thing to do. Their behavior was bad and needed to be addressed. But for the parents to sue everyone involved is trying to personally gain at the expense of the taxpayers…” wrote one reader.

Said another: “They should not be able to sue for damages. That is totally out of line. Try teaching the kids to follow the rules and give them a proper example to follow.”

“The boys should be thankful to have had the charges dropped. Learn the lesson regarding inappropriate behavior and move on. The attempt to sue the school and DA tells me they haven't learned their lesson,” another person wrote.

The case has also split the vast majority of readers who agree with the judge’s decision into two camps: “Boys will be boys” versus “The behavior was unacceptable but should be punished outside of court.”

Some of the readers who sounded off in a kgw.com survey believe the boys’ age excuses their actions.

“I think prosecutors rushed to trial of the two kids for HORSEPLAY. They're kids!!” one reader wrote.

“12 year old boys acting like 12 year old boys should not be made into a capital crime…” another reader echoed.

“Apologize? Fine, but they are also owed an apology from the overreacting adults and hysterical legal system. Yet again, this is another example of the illegalization of being a boy,” wrote another.

“Boys will be boys whether my era or this era,” one reader added.

The outrage even spread to suggest that the girls may not have been truly bothered by the boys groping, poking and team “dry humping” them.

“It doesn't matter whether the kids were groping or just swatting. I'm sure the girls weren't as horrified by this like some of commenters have suggested… They are 13!!! Didn't you ever do stupid stuff when you were that age?” asked a reader.

The answers and comments in response came swiftly.

“Wow!!” wrote one person. “Two students purposely fondle multiple female students on several occasions and that’s ok? They were too young to know this was inappropriate? If you believe that, then I have some ocean front property to sell you dirt cheap in Arizona. These poor victims who were sexually assaulted are made to feel that this behavior is ok. This just opened the door for all middle school students to grab a feel whenever they want, then whine and say, ‘I'm only 13, I didn't know that wasn't ok.’ ”

Wrote another, “For those folks saying 'boys will be boys', we should re-think that statement and, if we replace the situation into an adult setting, how would an adult feel if the same actions were performed against them?”

Many agreed.

“Sexual harassment, whether the accused is 9 years old or 39 years old is something that is no longer tolerated, and if this case brings the problem of CHILD sexual harassment to the forefront then all the better. I do not believe these two boys meant any harm but the fact that they didn't know what they were doing was wrong means that kids aren't being taught early enough that invasions of personal space (physical or otherwise) is unacceptable,” said another reader.

Women who were victims of similar actions by male classmates shared their stories and still-simmering anger.

“This happened to me when I was in middle school, and I'm furious -- not with the school, but with the parents of these boys! Why were they never taught what acceptable public behavior was? "Boys will be boys" is an unacceptable rationale for what they did. The parents should be made to go through parenting classes,” one woman wrote.

Another described how she and school administrators dealt with a similar problem when she was growing up.

“When I was in junior high, I was faced with the same situation as the girls were. I had a male classmate that felt he could touch me in places that were inappropriate. The first time he touched me, I warned him if he did it again, he was going to get it! He did it again and I got sent to the principle’s office for breaking his nose. There was no lawsuit, or police involvement. In fact the principle told me that I handled the situation just fine and I protected myself because I was given no choice at that particular point and time. I got the lecture from my mom about it not being ok, to hit people, etc..... The young boy got sent to Saturday School for a few weekends and trust me he never touched anyone again!!!”

About ninety percent of readers surveyed described the case as ridiculous and agreed it should have been handled at the local level.

“I thought this entire process has been obscene…I was almost embarrassed to say I was FROM Yamhill County,” one reader said.

Added another: “This case has been a joke from the very beginning. Yes, the behavior was inappropriate, but NOT criminal.”

Another post reads: “If this was a systemic problem at the school, as it sounds like it was, why wasn't the administration dealing with it, instead of handing it over the legal system?”