Five Of Six ‘Bored’ Teens Involved In Ohio Assault Take Plea Deal
Back in August 2012, 45-year-old Pat Mahaney was walking home from the store in North College, Ohio with a six-pack of beer when he was assailed by six teenagers. He awoke after covered in blood on his neighbor’s front step while receiving medical attention.
Mahaney was taken to Mercy Mt. Airy Hospital for four days of treatment for internal injuries. Doctors had to go as far as pumping the blood from the man’s stomach.
Several witnesses informed police they had seen six children attack the man. Mahaney was bewildered children were capable of that level of unprovoked violence, as he never saw the attack coming. The last thing he remembered was feeling the first strike of something hitting the back of his head.
The first five teenage suspects were arrested that night including twin brothers Tyree and Terrell Mizzell; Lamont Champion and Daquan Cain, all 13-year-olds; and Michael E. James, 14. The sixth suspect, Antonio Hendrix, was arrested the following day.
The six young teens faced felony charges of aggravated rioting and felonious assault, which had they been charged as adults in the case, could have held a sentence between 10 and 25 years in prison.
A police report quoted the motive behind the attack as the teens claimed they were “bored and were looking for something to do.” Authorities do not believe the attack was racially motivated as a hate-type crime.
North College Hill Police Chief Gary Foust conveyed his perception of the children as rather arrogant with little remorse revealed during the interview process.
Since having the charges levied against them, five of the six teens have pled before a judge.
Three of the six teenagers pled guilty to felonious assault March 18 in Hamilton County Juvenile Court as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. In exchange, the aggravated rioting charges were dropped. Within the next two months, Daquan Cain, Lamont Champion, and Antonio Hendrix, all now 14, will be sentenced. Upon the terms of the agreement, they could potentially be given probation or be detained in a juvenile institute for one year or until they are 21.
Recently, the 13-year-old bored twins, Tyree and Terrell Mizzell, pled guilty as part of their plea agreement to felonious assault. They too could face probation, fines, and up to a year in juvenile detention for their role in Mahaney’s severe beating. They will be sentenced on April 22.
One teenager, Michael E. James, 15, has yet to go before a judge in this case. Pending final sentencing, all the teens will remain under house arrest.
Do you think the teenagers in this case should have received harsher punishments? Are you concerned about the prevalence of teen violence? How do you feel about “boredom” as an excuse to nearly kill a person for entertainment?
[Image via Shutterstock]
