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NINE INDICTED IN BEATINGS

Students indicted in mob beating

Date published: 5/19/2009

BY ELLEN BILTZ

The nine Spotsylvania County students charged with severely beating two teens were indicted yesterday by a grand jury.

Each of the students is facing two counts of malicious wounding by mob in connection with the Jan. 11 assault.

Authorities have said the mob beat up two men in a field near the Stonybrooke subdivision, and at least one student videotaped the incident on a cell phone.

The victims' injuries were so severe that they required surgery and days in the hospital.

Three of the students charged are juveniles and had previously not been named by The Free Lance-Star.

But their names were made public following yesterday's indictments because they will now be tried as adults. They are Brock Bullock, Tyrik Jamal Denson and James Massey, all 17 years old.

Prosecutor Matt Lowery said yesterday that Denson has appealed his transfer to be tried as an adult, but he is currently set on the court docket with the other defendants.

The other six students charged are Kyle A. Brown, 18; De'onte C. Jones, 18; Jonathan R. Longtin, 18; John H. "Jay" Madison, 18; Tajh H. Pendleton, 19; and Matthew W. Shepherd, 18.

The allegations against the students have sparked controversy within the county over the school board's policy regarding students involved in criminal cases.

Several of the students played football and ran track at Courtland High School and at least one defendant, Brown, attends Spotsylvania High School.

Since they were charged, the athletes were at first defended by their coaches, but were later dismissed from their respective teams because of the charges.

Last week, the school board decided to table the decision on how to deal with high school athletes who are charged with a crime, saying that they needed more time to talk about the policy.

The board is set to discuss the issue again June 11 at a work session.

All nine students are to appear in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court June 2 for their arraignments.

Lowery said yesterday that he expects them all to be tried together following their arraignments, although no further court dates had been set.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com



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Date published: 5/19/2009


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Viewing 5 out of 23 comments. (Sorted in reverse order, with most recent post at the top.)

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elongtin12 (posted by returninghome , May 24, 2009 2:00 pm)   
its in free speech dear heart !!! "friends for years! I mean years! " wow if thats a friend then i dont think id want any to be honest . and you dont know what i know .. or whom i am do you ? I wouldnt of posted if i was unsure

you misunderstood livinlife (posted by reaper , May 21, 2009 6:53 am)   
the paper had it absolutly right,the story going around is the 2 boys deserved it for beating up 2 kids,THATS THE LIE PART,only one of the 2 was involved in a previous incident,it was 1 on 1 with a 19 yr old not little siblings that longtin keeps useing ,so you people drinking the ,"they somehow deserved it koolaid" keep on if it makes you feel better about your friend or relatives charges,facts are facts !

wow (posted by livinlife232 , May 21, 2009 12:11 am)   
It was one on one until the other boy came running behind the fight to help out. The paper blew this way out of proportion saying the people watching were cheering and clapping, that's bull. I pray for everyone in this case that everyone learns their lesson, fighting and revenge brings nothing but more trouble....God Bless

well longtins brother (posted by reaper , May 20, 2009 9:35 pm)   
Im the father of one of the victims,sure they DROVE OFF it was either that or lay their and bleed with your jaw broken in 4 places stomped by 9 people because they believed a lie that these 2 jumped another kid,who isnt a kid hes 19,and me and his mother talked it out and itwas OVER,and only one person was involved 1 on 1,not 9 on 2 you dont know the facts either.go to court with your bro youll get the facts laid out in video

In regards to Returning Home (posted by elongtin12 , May 20, 2009 4:05 pm)   
They were all up there playing football, which is what they used to do EVERY weekend until this incident. These kids have all been friends for years! I mean years!! That is why all of the kids were there.. This was not a preplanned fight. All of you need to stop judging. You dont have a clue of what the facts are and just need to keep your opinions to yourselves.

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