Tape Released Showing Teen Beate

Eight Indicted in Shelter Death of Boy

MINDEN, La. — Eight current and former employees of a youth shelter were indicted Monday on negligent homicide charges in the death of a 12-year-old boy who collapsed during a disciplinary run.

Alex Harris died last year after a forced run for breaking rules at the Hope Youth Ranch, about 10 miles north of Minden in northwestern Louisiana. Webster Parish prosecutor Schuyler Marvin said the boy had complained about feeling ill but was denied water and rest.

Hope Youth Ranch is a nonprofit Christian-based organization for boys. It receives state funding because the juveniles in its care are either foster children or have been sent there by state authorities.

The defendants were being released on $2,500 bond each, an attorney for the shelter said. A negligent homicide charge carries up to five years in prison.

"We feel, certainly, there was no criminal negligence involved in this matter," said Marty Stroud, the shelter's lawyer. He said the shelter has an excellent record.

Autopsy results indicated Harris died of dehydration and head injuries, Marvin said.

Investigators said that Harris collapsed and that an older boy picked him up and carried him. But when Harris began vomiting, the boy dropped him.

The head injury was probably caused by the boy dropping him, Marvin said.

___

May 22, 2006 - 9:05 p.m. PDT

DISCLAIMER, WARNINGS, AND NOTICE TO READERS: This website does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, content collectively, the "Materials") contained on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded or accessed from any of the services contained on this website (the "Service"). None of the contributors, sponsors, administrators or anyone else connected with this website in any way whatsoever can be responsible for the appearance of any inaccurate or libelous information or for your use of the information contained in these web pages. All information provided using this website is only intended to be general summary information to the public.

FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages may contain copyrighted (© ) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

REFERRALS: CAICA is not a referral agency. CAICA does not refer to or promote facilities or transport companies for children or teens. CAICA warns parents that the parent pay / parent choice programs ie. Residential Treatment Centers, Therapeutic Boarding Schools, Behavior Modification Programs, Christian Programs, Positive Peer Culture Programs, etc., are not regulated by the Federal Government and that it is a "Buyer Beware" industry. CAICA provides the following for parents: Message to Parents, Help for Distraught and Desperate Parents, and Questions to Ask and Warning Signs.

© 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008