A brawl at an Illinois high school has led to 26 students being criminally charged, the local state’s attorney’s office announced on Facebook Friday.
The charges announced by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office include mob action, disorderly conduct and aggravated battery of a peace officer. The students being charged range in age from 14 to 18, with 15 girls and 11 boys involved, authorities said.
Two of the students, a pair of 18-year-old women, have been charged as adults for their roles in the Aug. 30 fight at Alton High School in Alton.
Precious Holloway was charged with aggravated battery of a school employee, a “class 3” felony that carries a sentence ranging from probation to five years in prison. Ms. Holloway is accused of lowering her shoulder and ramming the school’s assistant principal, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.
A’Marie Robinson was charged with aggravated battery at a public place, also a “class 3 felony,” and mob action, a “class 4” felony that carries a sentence ranging from probation to three years in prison. Ms. Robinson is accused of striking multiple students, according to the News-Democrat.
The 24 other students charged as juveniles are subject to delinquency petitions. Punishments range from court supervision and probation to being committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. A student committed to the department can be held at a juvenile detention facility until their 21st birthday, the attorney’s office said.
The state’s attorney’s office said no weapons were involved in the brawl.
“It is a tragedy whenever the criminal justice system becomes the appropriate tool to punish students for actions that occur in school. But where necessary, we will use all tools the law offers to ensure the safety of our schools. Our schools must be protected from crime and violence. Period,” Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine said in a statement.
The school district laid down its own punishment for the brawl, with 20 students expelled and 16 others given lengthy suspensions, according to the News-Democrat. A metal detector has been installed at the school.
Local law enforcement has said the school will get a third school resource officer in the aftermath of the brawl.
“We’re moving forward with that,” Madison County Sheriff Jeff Connor said, according to local newspaper The Telegraph.
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