Ocala third-graders avoid prosecution over drawings

Ocala Star-Banner | February 03. 2005
By RICK CUNDIFF

OCALA - Two third-graders arrested on felony charges of making threatening drawings of a classmate in their special education class at Wyomina Park Elementary School will avoid criminal prosecution under a plan offered by the State Attorney's Office.

Ocala Police led the boys from Wyomina Park in handcuffs on Jan. 25, after school officials reported the boys drew stick figures of themselves and a third boy. The third boy, identified by name and initials, was shown being stabbed and hanged.

Instead of felony prosecution, the defendants, ages 9 and 10, will enter a five- to seven-month counseling program.

They will be required to take part in anti-aggression and anti-bullying counseling, said Robin Arnold, Marion County division supervisor for the 5th Circuit State Attorney's Office.

If the boys successfully complete the program, they won't face any criminal charges.

The father of the 10-year-old defendant said Wednesday he was happy to see the criminal case against his son resolved.

"The best outcome for my son was making sure the criminal stuff was taken care of," he said. "Like a ton of bricks have been lifted off of me. And I know a ton of bricks has been lifted off of (my son)."

The boy's father, saying his son has attention deficit disorder, said he believed the drawing was never meant as a serious threat to the victim.

"ADD children are very imaginative and they exaggerate greatly," he said.

With the criminal charges dropped, the boys are free to return to school, said Marion School District spokesman Kevin Christian.

"Our standard policy is, when the charges are dropped, they can return back to their school where they are based," Christian said. "We have decided these two students will not be put into the same classroom as the victim."