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