Students in Belleville school bus attack are charged

 

By Nicholas J.C. Pistor

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Friday, Sep. 18 2009

BELLEVILLE -- Two Belleville West  High School  students were charged under the
juvenile code today with felony counts of aggravated battery stemming from the
violent beating of a 17-year-old student on a school bus earlier this week.
The incident grabbed national headlines and incited a heated debate about race
when police said the incident, involving a white victim and black assailants,
may have been racially motivated. They later recanted that claim.
The two teenagers—who are 14 and 15 years-old—were charged as juveniles because
they are under the age of 17. Illinois law shields the disclosure of their
names because they are minors.
Juvenile courts are more informal and private than adult courts. Juvenile court
records are not available to the general public.
Robert Haida, the St. Clair County state's attorney, said Illinois law does not
permit him to charge the teens in adult court. The law mandates that a minor
can be charged in adult court only if the case involves certain crimes, such as
murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or armed robbery with a firearm. 
Warrants were issued for the defendants' immediate arrest. They had been in
custody earlier but released pending investigation.
On the issue of a hate crime, Haida said: “No evidence is present to suggest
that the motive for the conduct was the race of the victim. Illinois law
requires such evidence in order to support that charge. Illinois law is clear
that the fact that a defendant and a victim are of different races is
insufficient without more evidence to support a hate crime.”
Both students have been suspended from school and could face expulsion.
Belleville police released video of the Monday morning incident and labeled it
“racially motivated.” Later, a  department  spokesman said his initial comments
were “personal and emotional” and not accurate.
"The incident appears now to be more about a couple of bullies on a bus
dictating where people sit,” said Capt. Don Sax.
The video depicted a violent attack after a 17-year-old student walked onto the
bus and looked for a seat, but was apparently refused. He then took a seat next
to one of his attackers, who lashed out with a series of punches to the
victim's head. At one point, the attacker held the victim by the neck with one
hand, while he punched his face with the other.
Another attack ensued a few minutes later, and was eventually halted by another
student.

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