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| Former Indiana Officer Charged In Incident That Broke Juvenile's Neck |
| By Indianapolis Star |
| Published: 03/05/2003 |
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A former officer at the Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, accused of breaking an inmate's neck by slamming his head into the floor, has been charged in the December incident. Charges also were filed against him for incidents in which he allegedly punched nine other inmates at the facility. Shawn James, 30, of Plainfield was being held Wednesday in the Hendricks County Jail on $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court at 2 p.m. today. Prosecutor Pat Baldwin said James faces 20 separate charges, including aggravated battery, a Class B felony; and neglect of a dependent, a Class D felony, in connection with the Dec. 26 attack on Joe Roberts, 18. Doctors say Roberts, of the 400 block of Leeds Avenue, is a quadriplegic. James is also charged with 18 other counts of neglect of a dependent and criminal recklessness for allegedly punching nine other inmates at the facility, formerly known as the Indiana Boys School. He told police he punched the youths instead of issuing written reprimands as called for in the rules. The Indiana Department of Correction fired James after investigating the incident. After the incident, Roberts underwent experimental surgery at Wishard Memorial Hospital. He was released Wednesday. Jean Roberts, the victim's father, said he was pleased that James was charged. 'I am happy my son has gotten justice, but I am sad, too. He (James) ruined our lives and his own life, too. Officers are like police officers; they have to be held to a higher standard because they are in charge of our kids,' he said. Roberts was being held in the Plainfield facility on an intimidation charge. In a sworn affidavit, Indiana State Police Sgt. Brian W. Smith said that on Dec. 26, James became angry when someone turned on a television set at the facility. Although Roberts denied that he turned on the television, the affidavit said, James grabbed him and threw him across a table. Then he grabbed Roberts in a wrestling hold, lifted him off his feet and slammed him down. Once on the floor, James arched Roberts' back and slammed his head into the floor one or two times, Smith said in the affidavit. James denied the account and said Roberts had threatened him. Other inmates later challenged James' version of the incident, and he told them: 'Shut up or I'll do the same thing to you,' according to Smith's affidavit. |
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