DA's Office Unsure Whether to Prosecute Youths

December 9, 2009—

The Los Angeles DA’s office has yet to decide whether or not to file criminal charges against three middle school students at A.E. Wright for their alleged attack on redheaded students.

The sheriff’s department arrested two 12-year-old and one 13-year-old boys in connection with the assaults and, for the older boy, threats sent out via the internet in an “electronic bullying” twist.

The incident was apparently prompted by a “Kick a Ginger Day” Facebook page, which itself was inspired by a “South Park” episode satirizing racial prejudice.

The sheriff’s department says some of the accused students could be placed in a juvenile diversion program instead of the criminal court system.

The boys have already sent apology notes to the attacked students and they, as well as their parents, could face everything from restitution to counseling. Families in similar situations are sometimes required to attend group counseling and have their status monitored for a year.

The school says that nine children are responsible for the attacks on eleven red haired students.

Nobody was seriously hurt and the most severe attack left a 12-year-old boy with cuts and bruises. Other children were pushed, shoved and/or kicked.

The case has been reported worldwide.