TEEN FACES FINE, JAIL FOR HITTING EX-GIRLFRIEND

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 15, 1992                   TAG: 9202150326
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
TEEN FACES FINE, JAIL FOR HITTING EX-GIRLFRIEND
A James River High School student who broke his former girlfriend's jaw with a hallway knockout punch last month has been put under the purview of juvenile court for assault and battery, according to the girl's mother.
In a hearing Tuesday, Randy Merchant, 17, also was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, prohibited from going anywhere other than to school and told to pay the girl's medical bills, she said.
It was not clear whether Merchant, an athlete, would be allowed to continue playing sports.
Theresa Montgomery, 16, was knocked unconscious in a fight with Merchant, the Buchanan school's quarterback and a member of the basketball team, and had to have a molar removed in order to have her jaw wired shut. She also suffered bruises on her arms and the back of her head.
She has not returned to school.
Montgomery's mother, Brenda Harris, reported the results of the hearing in Botetourt County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court after it was closed to the news media and after court officials refused to talk about the case because it involved juveniles.
"I haven't seen Theresa smile that much in a long time," Harris said. After the psychological evaluation, Merchant could face a $2,500 fine and 12 months in jail.
Harris said she and her daughter were happy with the results of the hearing but still have questions about Merchant's status on the basketball team.
She said that she asked prosecutor Rob Hagan whether Merchant would be allowed to continue playing sports at James River and was told that the decision would be left to Botetourt juvenile probation officer Glenn Lavoie. Lavoie declined to comment.
Merchant was suspended for five days after the incident, during which he couldn't play in basketball games, and was placed on probation by the school for the rest of the year. He was told to stay away from Montgomery and have no more fights or he would be expelled.
The five-day suspension upset Harris, who thought it wasn't severe enough under the circumstances, leading her to take out a juvenile petition against Merchant.
The fight took place near the school gym when Montgomery and a group of friends playfully threw a mushroom at Merchant and an argument between the two ensued.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB