Jan 5, 2008 10:30 pm US/Eastern
Home Detention For Teens Charged In Bus Beating
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Nine teenagers accused of beating a woman on a MTA bus went before a judge in juvenile court Friday morning.
Mike Hellgren reports the judge decided whether they should remain under house arrest until their juvenile hearings.
Prosecutors claim the teens are responsible for fracturing Sarah Kreager's eye sockets. They say they also injured her boyfriend and the bus driver. Prosecutors say the teens continued to beat Kreager as she lay in the curb at 36th and Chestnut.
But William McDaniels, the father of one of the accused teens, says Kreager threw the first punch.
"It really hurts me inside more than it hurts my daughter because she's being punished for something she didn't actually probably do. I would say she's defending herself," said McDaniels.
In his daughter's handwritten account, she says she felt her life was in danger. But prosecutors dropped assault charges the teen filed against Kreager, saying the facts didn't back them up.
"I would like for the whole truth to come out, and I want everybody's story to be heard," said McDaniels.
A judge ordered all the teens remain detained in their homes until trial.
"One would only have to look at the photos of her injuries to believe that there was a very horrible crime committed against this young woman," said Margaret Burns, spokesperson for the State's Attorney's Office.
"Fourteen years of age, no contacts with the law, no school infractions. All of a sudden she's a danger to the public. Not the case, clearly not the case," defense attorney Jerry Tarud said.
Prosecutors also filed more charges for destruction of property. The rear door of the bus was bashed in.
"It was a very weak case. We think as soon as we can get to court, we can get these children's names cleared," said defense attorney Garland Sanderson.
All the teens will be tried together with separate defense attorneys. Some believe it could turn into a circus.
"Things get very complicated when you have a lot of lawyers involved. The evidence can become very muddy," said defense attorney Jay Ortis.
Defense attorneys also claimed prosecutors have been slow to turn over evidence, including the 911 calls and tapes of interviews.
"This is just the first step in the arduous process of vindication for our clients," said defense attorney Quinton Herbert.
Kreager's beating was the first in a string of unrelated violence involving juveniles on MTA buses, prompting tough, new security measures.
The teens' trial is set for Jan. 31.
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