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American Morning
Hazing Charges
Aired May 22, 2003 - 09:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Two adults now facing charges in the hazing incident in Illinois. Six high school students were injured in that incident back on May 4, one requiring 10 stitches, 15 students also facing charges, but the state attorney's office is now placing part of the blame on some of the parents.
Illinois state attorney Richard DeVine is our guest now from Chicago.
Mr. DeVine, good morning to you.
RICHARD DEVINE, ILLINOIS STATE ATTY.: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: What does the allegations state against the adults?
DEVINE: Well, one complaint is that an adult purchased the three kegs that ended up being part of this outbreak of violence in the Forest Preserves. Two of the kegs went to the Forest Preserves. One keg went to the home of the parent of the junior at the high school. The other adult is the parent at the house, and she is charged with lending her residence to be used by minors to consume alcohol.
HEMMER: And charges against an 18-year-old, is that right? And if so, what's the allegation there?
DEVINE: Right, the son of the woman who purchased the three kegs is charged with unlawful use of alcohol by a minor for his part in carrying the kegs back and forth and getting them to the Forest Preserves and the house.
HEMMER: Based on your investigation and the direction you're headed right now, what do you believe is impact that alcohol was available that day?
DEVINE: We think alcohol played a significant part in all this. Both the junior and senior girls appear to have been drinking most of the morning, many of them anyway, prior to the hazing outbreak at the Forest Preserves. And clearly, from the videotapes and from what we heard from others, the behavior, which was of course, juvenile and foolish to begin with, was compounded by the fact that many of them had a real buzz on.
HEMMER: Class a misdemeanor? What does that mean in your state?
DEVINE: Class a misdemeanor is the most serious misdemeanor. If convicted, you can be sentenced up to 364 days in jail, you can be fined. Obviously probation is a possibility as well. But it's a serious charge, and it will be treated serious by our office.
HEMMER: Are we to anticipate more charges?
DEVINE: The investigation continues, and we have started to get cooperation from the residents, calling in with some information. So we'll take the information and the evidence wherever that leads us, and if that leads to further charges, they'll be brought.
HEMMER: Richard DeVine, Illinois state attorney, live in Chicago. Thank you, sir.
DEVINE: You're quite welcome, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 22, 2003 - 09:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Two adults now facing charges in the hazing incident in Illinois. Six high school students were injured in that incident back on May 4, one requiring 10 stitches, 15 students also facing charges, but the state attorney's office is now placing part of the blame on some of the parents.
Illinois state attorney Richard DeVine is our guest now from Chicago.
Mr. DeVine, good morning to you.
RICHARD DEVINE, ILLINOIS STATE ATTY.: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: What does the allegations state against the adults?
DEVINE: Well, one complaint is that an adult purchased the three kegs that ended up being part of this outbreak of violence in the Forest Preserves. Two of the kegs went to the Forest Preserves. One keg went to the home of the parent of the junior at the high school. The other adult is the parent at the house, and she is charged with lending her residence to be used by minors to consume alcohol.
HEMMER: And charges against an 18-year-old, is that right? And if so, what's the allegation there?
DEVINE: Right, the son of the woman who purchased the three kegs is charged with unlawful use of alcohol by a minor for his part in carrying the kegs back and forth and getting them to the Forest Preserves and the house.
HEMMER: Based on your investigation and the direction you're headed right now, what do you believe is impact that alcohol was available that day?
DEVINE: We think alcohol played a significant part in all this. Both the junior and senior girls appear to have been drinking most of the morning, many of them anyway, prior to the hazing outbreak at the Forest Preserves. And clearly, from the videotapes and from what we heard from others, the behavior, which was of course, juvenile and foolish to begin with, was compounded by the fact that many of them had a real buzz on.
HEMMER: Class a misdemeanor? What does that mean in your state?
DEVINE: Class a misdemeanor is the most serious misdemeanor. If convicted, you can be sentenced up to 364 days in jail, you can be fined. Obviously probation is a possibility as well. But it's a serious charge, and it will be treated serious by our office.
HEMMER: Are we to anticipate more charges?
DEVINE: The investigation continues, and we have started to get cooperation from the residents, calling in with some information. So we'll take the information and the evidence wherever that leads us, and if that leads to further charges, they'll be brought.
HEMMER: Richard DeVine, Illinois state attorney, live in Chicago. Thank you, sir.
DEVINE: You're quite welcome, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
