Madison County files charges against 26 high school students after fight
Twenty-six students at Alton High School have been charged in connection with fighting at the school on Aug. 30, the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
Two of the students were charged as adults while 24 were charged as juveniles.
Precious V. Holloway, 18, was charged on Sept. 25 with aggravated battery of a school employee and A’Marie Robinson, 18, was charged on Sept. 25 with aggravated battery at a public place and mob action, according to court records and a news release from the prosecutor’s office.
The names of the juveniles were not released because of their ages. The charges included disorderly conduct, mob action and aggravated battery of a peace officer.
The students ranged in age from 14 to 18. They include 15 females and 11 males.
No weapons were involved in the altercations, the state’s attorney’s office release stated.
Charging documents allege Robinson “struck multiple fellow students located in the Alton High School gym” on Aug. 30.
The documents allege Holloway “lowered her shoulder and deliberately rammed” into Assistant Principal Mike Brey during the course of an ongoing fight on Aug. 30.
Alton School District 11 school board members released a statement last month that said they had disciplined 36 students. The board expelled 20 students and 16 others “were administered lengthy suspensions” in connection with the “disturbing and unfortunate incidents that occurred at Alton High School” on Aug. 30.
“Due to student confidentiality, no additional information can or will be provided,” the statement said.
Superintendent Kristie Baumgartner sent parents a letter last month about the installation of a metal detector at the high school. The Sept. 5 letter also stated there were “multiple physical altercations” involving students on Aug. 30 and that the “sheer amount of students trying to video” the fights with their cellphones made it “very difficult for staff and other responders to immediately intervene.” Baumgartner wrote that any student inappropriately using their cellphone will lose their phone privileges in addition to facing school discipline.
The fights prompted the district to cancel classes on Aug. 31 at the high school.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office lead the investigation of the cases against the students. Sheriff Jeff Connor could not be reached for comment Thursday.
“After a close review of each case referred to our office, we have seen fit to file charges against these students for various crimes stemming from these incidents,” Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine said in the news release. “Our schools must be protected from crime and violence. Period.”
Holloway has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, according to court records.
Court records did not list an upcoming court date for Robinson.
Neither Holloway nor Robinson had a defense attorney listed for them in court records.
Haine “commended police and school officials for their response, as well as other public and private community leaders who are working hard to bring the community together in the wake of this difficult episode,” the news release stated.
The charges against the 24 juveniles are known as delinquency petitions, according to the state’s attorney’s news release.
“A juvenile who is adjudicated to be delinquent can face a range of punishments, including court supervision, probation or commitment to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice,” the release stated.
