ALTON, Ill. — More than two dozen people were charged in connection with a series of fights at Alton High School earlier this year.
According to a news release from Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine, 15 females and 11 males were charged with counts ranging from disorderly conduct to mob action. The juvenile suspects were issued juvenile charges, known as delinquency petitions.
Precious Holloway and A'Marie Robinson, both 18, were charged as adults. Holloway was charged with aggravated battery of a school employee, and Robinson was charged with aggravated battery at a public place and mob action.
Editor's note: The above video was published on Sept. 1.
“It is a tragedy whenever the criminal justice system becomes the appropriate tool to punish students for actions that occur in school," Haine said in the news release. "But where necessary, we will use all tools the law offers to ensure the safety of our schools. Our schools must be protected from crime and violence. Period.”
The Alton School District said administrators, staff and law enforcement responded immediately. No students were seriously injured due to the fight, and no weapons were involved.
The fights at Alton High School led to two days of remote learning and even classes getting canceled. When students returned to in-person learning, there were new security measures in place.
The school also restricted attendance for some home football games at the beginning of the year.
Haine's office said aggravated battery of a school employee and aggravated battery at a public place are Class 3 felonies, with sentencing ranging from probation to five years in prison. Mob action is a Class 4 felony, which is punishable by up to three years in prison.
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