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Shreveport Times
Judge convicts 3 over Hope Youth
Ranch teen's death
Each of the former employees faces up to five years in prison
October 16, 2008
By Vickie Welborn
MINDEN — Three former employees of
Hope Youth Ranch face possible jail time after being convicted of
negligent homicide and cruelty to juveniles in connection with the
death in September 2005 of a Haughton teen who was in their care.
"I know our victim's family is
satisfied. This was a tough one, one of the toughest we've had,"
Webster District Attorney Schuyler Marvin said after Webster
District Judge Parker Self returned the guilty verdicts Wednesday
afternoon.
Anthony L. Combs, of Ruston, Arthur
G. Henderson II, of Cotton Valley, and Kelton Greenard, of Minden,
immediately were taken into custody.
They are expected to be sentenced
in four to six weeks. Each faces up to five years in jail on the
charge of negligent homicide and up to 10 years on the charge of
cruelty to juveniles.
The prosecution was difficult
because of the number of defendants, which at first numbered eight,
and the number of witnesses scattered throughout Louisiana who had
to be interviewed and later called to trial. And there was a hurdle
that had to be overcome early in investigation with the autopsy
report of Alex Harris' death.
"They were not conflicting," Marvin
said of the coroner's reports. "But we had to get all of that worked
out."
The first report by forensic
pathologist Frank Peretti, of Arkansas, was inconclusive. An
addendum blames Harris' death on hyperthermia and blunt force head
trauma.
Witnesses testified during the
three-day trial that the 12-year-old was among a group of boys
housed at Hope Youth Ranch, a residential treatment program for
young boys, who were forced to run as a punishment. Harris was
denied water and later collapsed. Older teens picked him up and
partially dragged him to another location. One picked up Harris but
dropped him when Harris started vomiting.
Witnesses testified that Harris,
who appeared lifeless, was left in the sun for hours before he being
moved and medical treatment was summoned. Harris died on the
premises and was officially declared dead at Minden Medical Center.
Of the eight who were arrested in
connection with Harris' death, charges were dismissed early on
against Troy Hamilton, of Homer, and Jeremy Blanks, Minden. And
charges were dismissed Monday against Willis Jean Doyle and Marcus
D. Jones, both of Castor, and Tasha G. Jackson, of Haynesville.
COMMENTS:
In your voice Read reactions to
this story Newest first Oldest first springhillbilly wrote:
Well, personally I do not like the
lawsuit culture that has developed in this country, where tragedy is
seen the same as winning the lottery. I do not see how anyone could
ask for or accept money to go away and shut up about the wrongful
death of a child. My interest in this matter is the safety and well
being of all the other young men who have been at Hope Youth Ranch
since the death of Alex Harris, as well as all of those who will be
sent to Hope youth Ranch in the future. I want the place shut down
and the top level managers sent to prison for the rest of their
lives, not to punish them, but to prevent them from ever harming
another child. That does not been that the facility has cease to
exist, just the organization that currently runs it. Another
non-profit organization could be formed by people who really care
about children. 10/18/2008 5:59:09 AM Well, personally I do not like
the lawsuit culture that has developed in this country, where
tragedy is seen the same as winning the lottery. I do not see how
anyone could ask for or accept money to go away and shut up about
the wrongful death of a child. <br />My interest in this matter is
the safety and well being of all the other young men who have been
at Hope Youth Ranch since the death of Alex Harris, as well as all
of those who will be sent to Hope youth Ranch in the future.<br />I
want the place shut down and the top level managers sent to prison
for the rest of their lives, not to punish them, but to prevent them
from ever harming another child.<br />That does not been that the
facility has cease to exist, just the organization that currently
runs it. Another non-profit organization could be formed by people
who really care about children. springhillbilly Recommend (1) New
post Reply to this Post Report Abuse
NativeProud wrote:
Oh, and Vickie Welborn, Alex was
NOT a teen, yet! Edit the headline! 10/17/2008 10:07:01 PM Oh, and
Vickie Welborn, Alex was NOT a teen, yet! Edit the headline!
NativeProud Recommend (1) New post Reply to this Post Report Abuse
NativeProud wrote:
The civil part is not over!...
10/17/2008 9:58:09 PM The civil part is not over!... NativeProud
Recommend New post Reply to this Post Report Abuse
springhillbilly wrote:
Also, Shonda, the thing to do about
this is to report it to the FBI on their website. Every person at
Hope Youth Ranch who knew that Alex Harris was being forced to run
in the hot sun as PUNISHMENT, and was denied water, is guilty of
conspiracy to violate Alex Harris' constitutional rights against
cruel and unusual punishment. This conspiracy to violate his civil
rights resulted in his death and was done under the "color of law".
The maximum penalty for this under federal law is life in prison,
not 5 years. So you can see why the DA is trying to protect his
friends. There is conflict of interest in their prosecution of this
case also because they prosecute the offenders who are sent to Hope
Youth Ranch. There needs to be federal prosecution. The thing to do
about the injustice is to report it on the FBI civil rights website.
10/17/2008 5:58:36 PM Also, Shonda, the thing to do about this is to
report it to the FBI on their website. Every person at Hope Youth
Ranch who knew that Alex Harris was being forced to run in the hot
sun as PUNISHMENT, and was denied water, is guilty of conspiracy to
violate Alex Harris' constitutional rights against cruel and unusual
punishment. This conspiracy to violate his civil rights resulted in
his death and was done under the "color of law". The maximum penalty
for this under federal law is life in prison, not 5 years. So you
can see why the DA is trying to protect his friends. There is
conflict of interest in their prosecution of this case also because
they prosecute the offenders who are sent to Hope Youth Ranch. There
needs to be federal prosecution. The thing to do about the injustice
is to report it on the FBI civil rights website. springhillbilly
Recommend New post Reply to this Post Report Abuse
springhillbilly wrote:
Shonda389, The information reported
was that the body was taken to the emergency room at 3pm, not 6pm,
but that the temperature of the body was 94 degrees at arrival and
it was estimated that the child had already been dead 3 hours. He
must have died just shortly after noon. There was testimoney that he
tried to get water from a fountain at lunch and was not allowed, and
was taken from the lunch room for a time. No one is saying what was
done to him during the time he was removed from the lunchroom. I
feel sure that the 3 who were convicted are guilty, but they are
being used as scapegoats, and many other people at Hope Youth Ranch
are also guilty. The founder and board members and other high level
management are probably good friends with the DA and others in his
office. I suspect they have conspired to put the blame on the 3
lowest level employees while the high level management continues to
enjoy the proceeds of two lucrative state contracts to house
juvenile delinquents.
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