"Charges filed against 5 teens in ice bucket prank" October 15, 2014
CLEVELAND — Five suburban teenage boys were charged with dumping a bucket of urine, water, and tobacco spit on a 15-year-old boy with autism who thought he was participating in the ice bucket challenge for charity....
The encounter occurred on Aug. 18 at one of the suspect’s homes, authorities said. It was reported to police on Sept. 3 after the victim’s mother found a video of it on her son’s cellphone.
The woman urged the news media to share the video widely, and celebrities including Cleveland native Drew Carey offered reward money to catch whoever was involved — although authorities said they knew who dumped the bucket on the teen.
Another Nigerian girls-type hoax?
Duane Deskins, the prosecutor in charge of the juvenile division, said the victim and the five suspects were friends who would sometimes ‘‘engage in distasteful and sophomoric pranks,’’ but added that the fake ice bucket ‘‘is clearly different.’’
Dean Valore, an attorney who represents the boy and his family, said the teen was scarred by the incident but is doing better thanks to the support he’s received.
Valore said the assault charges ‘‘have some teeth . . . It’s not a slap on the wrist.”
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Related: Ice Bucket Bullies
