The attorney for a 14-year-old accused of attacking a classmate in February said the teen has thrived in an alternative school, while going violation free under house arrest since being charged in juvenile court six weeks ago.
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The teen and his parents returned to Kane County Judge Clint Hull’s courtroom on Tuesday for a brief hearing in the case. The teen faces single counts of aggravated battery and battery in the Feb. 3 incident at Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin.
A classmate, 12-year-old Henry Sembdner, was hospitalized due to injuries he sustained in what School District U46 officials described as a “physical assault.” He has since been released. The district said at the time there was no history of bullying between the pair.
In court, attorneys told Hull that a social history and psychological evaluation had been completed. Hull said that information will be looked at by a group of experts who are tasked with determining treatment or other conditions the teen should face if he is found guilty.
Hull partially granted a request by the teen’s parents to ease the electronic-home monitoring restrictions on their son so that he could leave the house to get outside and skateboard. Prosecutors took no position on the issue.
After hearing of the teen’s progress in school and how he has complied with monitoring rules, Hull agreed to modify the restrictions.
“You’ve done real well the last six weeks. We’re going to start small,” Hull said in allowing the teen to only skateboard in front of his home, but not totally releasing him from pre-trial supervision. “I’m not willing to go all the way to that. He still needs to be in the house when he’s not out skateboarding.”
The teen continues to be subject to unannounced home and phone checks, and his family must contact pre-trial officials to get approval for any other structured activities.
Hull scheduled the case for a May 2 hearing.
Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.