ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, August 30, 1996 TAG: 9608300048
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: JOANNE POINDEXTER STAFF WRITER
A Bedford County judge Thursday convicted a 17-year-old Liberty High School student on a charge of assault and battery for his role in a school fight.
The trial of a 15-year-old who was also charged was continued.
The Bedford County Sheriff's Office had charged both teens with malicious wounding after an 18-year-old senior was injured in a fight that broke out as students were leaving a school assembly April 4. The injured student was taken to the hospital and treated for lacerations to the face and mouth; he later needed dental work.
At an earlier hearing on whether to send the case to Circuit Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Judge Philip A. Wallace heard evidence against the 17-year-old before deciding to keep the case in Juvenile Court. Thursday, Wallace committed the youth to the state Department of Juvenile Justice for an indefinite period. The judge then suspended the commitment and ordered supervised probation for the teen-ager.
The malicious wounding charge was reduced after witnesses testified they didn't see the 17-year-old kick the 18-year-old in the face, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Dirk Padgett said.
Wallace also ruled against a prosecution request to have the malicious wounding charge against the 15-year-old heard in Circuit Court. The judge said the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court had the ability to hold the teen accountable and responsible for his behavior.
The 15-year-old served three weeks in a juvenile detention center, has been under house arrest and has been working with court service personnel since the incident.
Witnesses testified Thursday that they saw the 15-year-old hitting and kicking the 18-year-old in the face. A court services worker told the judge the 15-year-old had said he was sorry the other student was hurt and for his own involvement in the fight.
The fight started after students began projecting spitballs and other pieces of paper.
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