The two suspects in this case, whose names are not being released due to their ages, are facing charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and conspiracy.
"If the allegations are true, this is perhaps the worst or one of the worst assaults perpetrated by a juvenile that we've seen in a long time," Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk told The Associated Press. "And, given the age of the juveniles, it makes it even more alarming."
Formal charges were to be filed during a closed detention hearing in Erie County Juvenile Court on Wednesday. It remains unclear what transpired during that hearing; however, just hours later, the 10-year-old suspect’s attorney, Chief Erie County Public Defender Tony Logue, announced that he was preparing a petition to protest the juvenile allegations against his client.
"I am going to have a petition filed to have the charges dismissed," Logue told the Erie Times-News, adding that the case should be treated as a "dependency matter rather than a delinquency matter."
I don't know what dictionary they use in law school, but according to the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, delinquency is the "failure in or neglect of duty or obligation … wrongful, illegal, or antisocial behavior … and any misdeed, offense, or misdemeanor."
The grandfather of the 10-year-old, Maurice Martin, also feels his granddaughter should receive leniency.
"It seems like everyone is making out both of these girls to be monsters, and they're not," Martin told WICU12.com, adding, "For a 10-year-old or 11-year-old to assault someone bad enough to break a hip, come on, how much force does a kid exert?"
Ian Murray, the assistant public defender who is representing the 10-year-old suspect, told the Erie Times-News his client is remorseful and that he wants her to be able to move on with her life, albeit with a "real appreciation for the act that was committed."
The victim in this case would also like to move forward, but unfortunately, she cannot do that with ease due to the three steel rods holding her shattered hip together.
Regardless of either suspect's age, it is my personal opinion that if they are found guilty, they should be punished accordingly. Neither girl should walk away without ramifications, especially when the object of their rage is suffering in a hospital bed. How will these suspects learn right from wrong if they are not formally held accountable for committing such an unspeakable act of violence? Not only do they need punishment, but they also need extensive counseling to determine what drove them to commit such a heinous crime and to prevent it from occurring again. That's my two cents, anyway.
A fund to help pay for Rikki's medical bills was set up this week. Donations can be made in Rikki's name at any Northwest Savings Bank.
