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May 25, 2005
Boot Camp Leader Gets Six
Years in Youth’s Death
By: Gary Grado
The leader of a boot camp
for troubled kids was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday for
the death of a 14-year-old Phoenix boy forced to stand in the summer
sun for hours.
Scottsdale resident Charles
Long, 59, choked up as he told his family to stay strong and
apologized to the family of A.H., telling them he hopes
they some day find peace.
"I believe if you give God a
chance you will find some peace," Long said.
A jury convicted Long Jan. 3
of manslaughter for Haynes’ death and aggravated assault for pulling
a knife on another camper.
A.H. was attending
America’s Buffalo Soldiers Re-Enactors Association summer boot camp,
an endurance program that consisted of hard labor and meager meals.
A.H. and eight other
campers were forced to stand in the sun July 1, 2001, as discipline,
wearing black sweats and deprived of water, prosecutor Mark Barry
said.
A.H. became delirious and
fell into convulsions before being taken to a nearby hotel where he
was placed in a shower and almost drowned.
A.H. was returned to the
camp near Buckeye about two hours later and was "essentially
deceased" when paramedics arrived, Barry said.
Long’s attorney, Ulises
Ferragut, argued that Long was at court with another child when the
incidents took place and co-defendant Troy Hutty told Long that
Haynes was "faking it." If Long knew Haynes was in danger, he would
have taken the appropriate steps, Ferragut said.
Hutty pleaded guilty to
negligent homicide and will be placed on probation.
Long presented 11 former
campers and parents to testify about life-changing experiences at
his camp.
Twenty-year-old Kirsten
Dennis said Long was the father figure in her life. One set of
parents said Long’s camp gave them hope for their son, who was
struggling with life.
Barb Riley, A.H.'s
grandmother, called Long a "con man."
Maricopa County Superior
Court Judge Ronald Reinstein said Long’s camp was ill-equipped and
its staff lacked medical emergency training.
A.H.'s mother, M.H., said Reinstein’s sentencing was fair.
"It may not be long enough,
but he’ll think about A. every day," M.H. said.
Contact Gary Grado by email,
or phone (602) 258-1746
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