Teenagers are known to often act irrationally and irresponsibly as they navigate through confusing years of hormone changes and learning how to appropriately interact with their peers on a daily basis. Unfortunately, some mistakes made as an adolescent can be damaging to a teen’s reputation and future. Some mistakes carry consequences that no parent wants to see his or her child face. Recently, in Pennsylvania, a 15-year-old girl may potentially face assault charges after a video of her beating another classmate went viral. If charges are made against her, her parents could benefit from speaking with a criminal defense attorney to lessen the impact of the formal accusations on her future.
A 16-year-old boy states he was altering his ring tone on his phone which he believes to have been the cause of the 15-year-old girl’s irritation with him. A video taken by another student nearby captured her jumping up and slapping the boy, followed by 17 closed fist punches. The video has since gone viral on the internet. The 16-year-old boy does not appear to fight back in the video.
The boy’s mother stated that she made the story public to start a discussion on bullying and how it can be improved in the schools. The school stated that the situation was handled according to its code of conduct and that it does not tolerate bullying behavior. The police are investigating the matter despite the school’s disciplinary action against the 15-year-old.
Assault charges that result in a formal conviction can cause immediate problems, including jail time and possible fines. It can also cause future damage, hindering college and job applications as well as rental applications for housing. Experienced criminal defense attorneys in Pennsylvania can potentially help individuals charged with assault by evaluating all evidence presented in a case and developing the best defense strategy possible.
Source: wpxi.com, “Student’s ringtone allegedly sparks assault at Chartiers Valley High School“, Nov. 7, 2016
