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Youth facing charges after hickey incident
RICHLAND HILLS, TX - A 13-year-old boy accused of giving a girl a hickey at Richland Middle School is facing a misdemeanor assault charge, which his parents call excessive. School police issued the teen a citation on Sept. 26 for assault by contact after the girl's parents reported the incident to the school, officials said. Her family could not be reached by telephone. The boy's mother, Patricia Singh, said her son has been punished by a three-day suspension from school. "Boys and girls have been doing this in middle school forever," Singh said. "Some people should probably be behind bars if this is assault."
| I'd prob'ly still be in jug for the flasher I put on Judy Heide's neck when I was 16 and she was 15... |
The teen, who is not being named by the Star-Telegram because he is a juvenile, is expected to meet with a Richland Hills prosecutor in December.
| He's a juvenile, acting just zackly like juveniles act — so they want to throw the book at him. |
The Singhs hope to get the charge dismissed or the fine waived. If not, they'll try to win his case in a municipal court trial, Singh said. Assault by contact is a Class C misdemeanor, similar to a traffic citation, police said. The fine is $283, Singh said. The boy pleaded not guilty at his hearing Thursday. He told Judge Ray Oujesky that he gave the girl the hickey but was not guilty of assault. In a statement, the girl wrote: "I had leaned over to get my backpack when I stood back up he bit me on the left side of my neck and then started sucking on the right side of my neck. I tried to get away, but he put his arms around my backside and locked."
| "Ricky! Stop it! Lemme go!" |
The boy's mother, however, said her son and the girl had been kissing and hugging throughout the day. The boy called the girl's statement a lie. "I did not force myself on her," he said Thursday before his hearing. The girl told her parents about the incident later that day, and they returned to the school, where they reported it to the school resource officer, Richland Hills police Detective Robert Moore said.
"What the hell is that honker on your neck, young lady?"
"Uhhh... It's a bruise, Pop."
"That's a hickey! Where's my belt?"
"Pop! He made me do it!" |
The boy said his friends saw him and the girl kissing and hugging during the school day. School Resource Officer Winston Humphreys said after the hearing that he was unable to find any students or teachers to corroborate the boy's story. Moore said the boy has since been warned not to touch girls inappropriately, including hugging. Singh said she understands her son needed to be punished for giving the hickey — she and her husband grounded him and spoke to him about appropriate behavior with girls. But, she said, "I don't see paying nearly $300 for a hickey. It doesn't make sense. You have kids in Dallas schools having oral sex. This is a hickey."
"Okay. So y'want to be a cop. Any criminal record?"
"Uhhh... One conviction."
"For what?"
"I gave somebody a hickey."
"Sorry. Can't use you. Try McDonald's." |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-11-08 |
