Apr 24, 2007 2:17 pm US/Eastern
Five Bowling Brook Counselors Surrender On Charges
by Suzanne Collins
WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ) ―
Five youth counselors turned themselves into police Tuesday, indicted in the death of a juvenile offender who was in their custody.
Suzanne Collins explains the teen was being restrained for misbehavior when he stopped breathing.
Five youth counselors from the now-closed Bowling Brook Preparatory School arrived in Westminster in a prison van early Tuesday morning.
The Carroll County Sheriff's Office said 36-year-old Mark Sainato, 33-year-old Shadi Sabbagh, 25-year-old Jason Robinson, 31-year-old Brian Kanavy and 31-year-old Michael Corradi were processed at Carroll County Central Booking.
The men, who were released on their own recognizance a short time later, face charges of reckless endangerment in the death of juvenile offender Isaiah Simmons. The teen was being restrained for bad behavior when he stopped responding. Prosecutors say the counselors waited about 40 minutes before calling 911 for help, thinking the teen was faking sleep.
"This is a tragic event and everybody of course feels very bad about [it], however my client did absolutely nothing criminal...He did everything he could as he learned about certain things to help this young man," said Steven Allen, defense lawyer for Corradi .
All five Bowling Brook defendants told court commissioners they had never been convicted of a crime in their lives.
"He has an absolutely flawless record. This guy has dedicated his life to helping kids and he should be rewarded for that," said Scott Rolle, a defense lawyer.
Rolle represents Sabbagh, who worked with youth for two-and-a-half years at Bowling Brook and received awards for it.
"We're very pleased he was released on a personal bond today. He's been extremely cooperative throughout," said Rolle.
The sheriff's office said the sixth counselor -- Dennis Harding -- will surrender later this week.
The family of Isaiah Simmons has asked the state's attorney to bring a more serious charge of manslaughter against the counselors. The prosecutor told
Eyewitness News Tuesday no more charges are expected.
Since the death there are new state training guidelines on the proper way to restrain a youth offender.
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