27 charges filed against Washington C.H. teen in alleged football "pin-pricking" incident
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Twenty-seven counts of assault were filed Monday against a Washington C.H. teen in Highland County Juvenile Court, stemming from the alleged "pin-pricking" incident following a September Washington C.H. High School vs. Greenfield McClain High School football game.
The Highland County Prosecutor's Office concluded its investigation into the incident on Friday and the charges were filed in Highland County Juvenile Court on Monday.
Following the Sept. 30 game, a number of McClain players complained to Head Coach Randy Closson about being cut or punctured by a sharp object during post-game handshakes, according to Greenfield Chief of Police Tim Hester. Hester said that through the course of the investigation it was determined that a 16-year-old male allegedly placed an object such as a tack in his glove and punctured the hands of the McClain players.
"There are 27 counts, one for each alleged victim," said Highland County Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Greer. "Every one of them are filed as a violation of the assault statute, and what that law states is that no person shall cause or knowingly attempt to cause physical harm to a person."
A date for an arraignment hearing has not yet been scheduled, Greer said, but he anticipates it will be scheduled by the end of the day. The hearing should take place within the next three weeks, which gives the juvenile and his family time to contact an attorney.
"During that hearing I will explain to him what his rights and options are, and he will either admit or deny (the charges)," Greer said.
In the juvenile court system, a defendant is not found guilty or not guilty, rather the allegations are found to be either true or not true, according to Greer.
Should the court find that the allegations are true, Greer said that there are a wide range of penalties. The maximum penalty could include removal of the juvenile from the home for placement in a detention center for a number of months.
"All victims will be afforded the right to come to court and speak, should they choose to," Greer said.
While that will probably not take place at the next scheduled hearing, Greer said, that if there was an admission of the charges, considerations will be given to the victims and each victim and their families will have an opportunity, "to say what they want to say as far as the penalty is concerned."
Twenty-seven counts of assault were filed Monday against a Washington C.H. teen in Highland County Juvenile Court, stemming from the alleged "pin-pricking" incident following a September Washington C.H. High School vs. Greenfield McClain High School football game.
The Highland County Prosecutor's Office concluded its investigation into the incident on Friday, and the charges were filed in Highland County Juvenile Court on Monday.
Following the Sept. 30 game, a number of McClain players complained to Head Coach Randy Closson about being cut or punctured by a sharp object during post-game handshakes, according to Greenfield Chief of Police Tim Hester. Hester said that through the course of the investigation, it was determined that a 16-year-old male allegedly placed an object such as a tack in his glove and punctured the hands of the McClain players.
"There are 27 counts, one for each alleged victim," said Highland County Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Greer. "Every one of them are filed as a violation of the assault statute, and what that law states is that no person shall cause or knowingly attempt to cause physical harm to a person."
A date for an arraignment hearing has not yet been scheduled, Greer said, but he anticipates it will be scheduled by the end of the day. The hearing should take place within the next three weeks, which gives the juvenile and his family time to contact an attorney.
"During that hearing, I will explain to him what his rights and options are, and he will either admit or deny (the charges)," Greer said.
In the juvenile court system, a defendant is not found guilty or not guilty; rather, the allegations are found to be either true or not true, according to Greer.
Should the court find that the allegations are true, Greer said that there are a wide range of penalties. The maximum penalty could include removal of the juvenile from the home for placement in a detention center for a number of months.
"All victims will be afforded the right to come to court and speak, should they choose to," Greer said.
While that will probably not take place at the next scheduled hearing, Greer said, that if there was an admission of the charges, considerations will be given to the victims, and each victim and their families will have an opportunity "to say what they want to say as far as the penalty is concerned."
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