Boy, 8, won’t be jailed in assault

A felony charge has turned into an effort to help a boy.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

LISBON — A felony charge has been filed against an 8-year-old boy accused of striking his principal.

Educators, police and now the court system say they are trying to help the troubled youth.

The boy was charged earlier this month with striking Helen Otto, McKinley Elementary School’s principal, on Oct. 26.

Atty. Denise Weingart, an assistant Columbiana County prosecutor who handles juvenile court, said that the youth struck Otto on her left arm with both fists and “left a red mark 3 inches in length.”

Otto referred questions to Don Thompson, the superintendent for the district.

Because the victim was an official and the action took place in school, the charge is a fifth-degree felony that could be punishable by six to 12 months in prison.

But the youth will not be going to prison.

He has yet to even enter a plea in court.

He has, in fact, been back in school some days, Thompson said. “Some days he’s here, and some days he isn’t.”

Weingart said that the youth is so young that Ohio Department of Youth Services does not have any kind of programs that could take him.

Youths age 12 and over could be eligible for an Ohio Department of Youth Services, she added.

But from the court’s perspective, Weingart said, “The goal is to get him the help he needs.”

The boy’s parents live apart in the Lisbon area.

Thompson said the school’s first goal is to get the boy back into classes.

He added that the youth’s acting up came a little earlier than normal for boys.

Lisbon police officers had been involved with the case but could not be reached to comment.

wilkinson@vindy.com