Teens Charged In Ice Bucket Case
Five teens have been charged with dumping a bucket containing urine and tobacco spit on a 15-year-old with autism who thought he was taking part in the “ice bucket challenge.”
Prosecutors in Cleveland said they’ve filed complaints against the youths ranging in age from 14 to 16 in juvenile court. They are all charged with disorderly conduct and three of the teens are also facing counts of delinquency and assault.
The complaints stem from an incident Aug. 18 in the Cleveland suburb of Bay Village, which was caught on video. In the clip, the teen with autism is seen standing in his underwear as a bucket that prosecutors say contained urine, tobacco spit and water was poured over him.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
“The victim and the five charged juveniles were and are friends and classmates. They regularly associate with one another and, at times, engage in distasteful and sophomoric pranks,” said Duane Deskins, who heads the juvenile division in the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office, in a statement. “However, this incident is clearly different. It crossed a moral and legal line, and even the five alleged perpetrators understand that and have expressed regret.”
Deskins said the charges “strike a balance between punishment and rehabilitation.”
Prosecutors said they consulted with the family of the teen with autism and they agreed with the charges.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and prompted celebrities including Drew Carey and Jenny McCarthy to offer up money to help find the culprits.
An online petition calling for prosecutors to act in the case garnered more than 360,000 signatures.
Read more stories like this one. Sign up for Disability Scoop's free email newsletter to get the latest developmental disability news sent straight to your inbox.