Friday, March 31, 2000
Mason teen put on house arrest
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — As her son was released from jail Thursday, a Mason mother disputed allegations that the eighth-grader was involved in a sexual assault against three female classmates.
“I still don't know that a crime was committed here. I hope God will see that these charges go where they should be — in the toilet,” the woman said.
The 13-year-old boy, jailed again March 20 after authorities accused him of violating a court order by phoning one of the girls in the case, was placed on house arrest and will be tutored at home until his trial, his mother said.
He is among three Mason Middle School students charged in an alleged encounter with the girls on March 11. Their names are not being released because they are juveniles.
The boy's freedom came two days after his lawyer, James Whitaker, petitioned a juvenile court judge for the boy's release from the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center, saying there was no proof he made a phone call to the girl.
The boy's family was moving that day and the new house did not have phone service. The boy was at the new residence with his parents when the call was left on the girl's answering machine, the boy's mother said.
Phone records also show that there were no calls made to the girl's home from the family's cellular phones, she said.
Last week, the two other suspects were required to complete their schoolwork at home after a public outcry about Magistrate Erik Peters' decision to place the boys on house arrest and permit them to attend school with the girls.
All of the boys face trial in two to three months. The 13-year-old who was released Thursday is charged with sexual battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The other two boys face charges of rape, sexual battery and contributing.
Authorities said the incident occurred at the Mason home of one of the girls while the girl's mother was away. The boys were at the residence earlier, and returned later that afternoon after the girl's mother left to go shopping.
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