Charges Dropped In Reform School Death

[Anonymous]

BALTIMORE—Charges were dismissed Tuesday against five counselors at a private school for juvenile offenders who were accused of waiting more than half an hour before calling emergency dispatchers about an unresponsive student who died.

Carroll Court Circuit Judge Michael M. Galloway dismissed the charges of reckless endangerment against the counselors at Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Middleburg. Charges against a sixth counselor were dropped Friday.

The school closed in March, weeks after Isaiah Simmons, 17, lost consciousness Jan. 23, 2007, while being restrained by staff members, then died.

Galloway said a failing to call 911 promptly did not meet the definition of reckless endangerment, The Sun of Baltimore reported.

Brian Hayden, a Bowling Brook administrator, said in a prepared statement: "With this dismissal, Judge Galloway affirms that these gentlemen had nothing but the utmost concern for the safety and welfare of Isaiah, and they reacted as quickly and effectively as possible in an effort to avoid this tragedy."

But Felicia Wilson, Simmons' mother, said she was "devastated and outraged" that charges against the counselors were dismissed.

Calling the judge's decision unexpected, Wilson said: "We are hoping and praying that that the Justice Department will step in file new charges against the counselors for using excessive force on my son.

"I will continue to fight for justice for my son."

A Justice Department spokesman said in September that the agency problem wouldn't get involved until after a verdict was reached in Carroll County Circuit Court.
"We are closely monitoring the state legal proceedings and have no further comment at this time," Jodi Bobb, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, said Tuesday.

Steven Heisler, the family's lawyer, said the state's attorney's office told him it planned to appeal the decision. "Don't forget that (Simmons) was restrained by six counselors for nearly three hours," Heisler said. "(The incident) was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner and there was eyewitness testimony as to what they did."

Heisler said the family has not decided what to do next. "They need time to take it all in," he said.

The Carroll County state's attorney's office did not answer calls after business hours.

http://www.newstimes.com/national/ci_8111271

[Ursus]

Oh, that does SUCK, big time... I guess participation in restraining Isaiah Simmons for three hours kinda clouded their effecting "the utmost concern for [his] safety and welfare," no? Those six counselors shouldn't be getting off with just a slap on the wrist.

[Anonymous]

What slap on the wrist? All charges dismissed.

I found an old thread about this: http://fornits.com/smf/index.php?topic=20505.0

[Ursus]

What slap on the wrist? All charges dismissed.

I found an old thread about this: http://fornits.com/smf/index.php?topic=20505.0

I understand that the charges were dismissed. I was referring to being charged in the first place, which some might construe as being a kind of slap on the wrist, given that those counselors had to wait over a year while their fate was up in the air.

I think the case was discussed in more threads than that one, but that was a good one.

BTW, not included in your first post with article link, but possibly important for the sake of later reference, was the article date and author. So here it is, FWIW...

http://www.newstimes.com/national/ci_8111271
NewsTimes
Charges dropped in reform school death
By KASEY JONES Associated Press Writer
Article Last Updated: 01/29/2008 07:37:19 PM EST