Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1992 TAG: 9202120193
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ATHLETE GUILTY IN BEATING
A school athlete at James River High School who broke his former girlfriend's jaw with a hallway knockout punch last month was found guilty Tuesday of assault and battery in Botetourt County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, according to the girl's mother.He also was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, prohibited from going anywhere other than to school and back home, and told to pay the girl's medical bills, she said.
It was not clear if he will be allowed to continue playing sports.
Theresa Montgomery, 16, was knocked unconscious in a fight with Randy Merchant, 17, the Buchanan school's quarterback and a member of the basketball team, and had to have a molar removed in order to have her jaw wired shut. She also suffered bruises on her arms and the back of her head.
She has not returned to school.
Montgomery's mother, Brenda Harris, reported the results of the juvenile hearing after it was closed to the media and after court officials refused to talk about the case because it involved juveniles.
"I haven't seen Theresa smile that much in a long time," Harris said. After the psychological evaluation, Merchant could face an additional $2,500 fine and 12 months in jail when formally sentenced.
Harris said she and her daughter were happy with the results of the hearing, but still have questions about Merchant's status on the basketball team. Her daughter also is still afraid to return to school, she said.
She said she asked prosecutor Rob Hagan if Merchant would be allowed to continue playing sports at James River and was told that decision would be left to Botetourt Juvenile Probation Officer Glenn Lavoie. Lavoie would not comment Tuesday.
Merchant was suspended for five days after the incident, during which he couldn't play in basketball games, and was placed on probation by the school fo the rest of the year. He was told to stay away from Montgomery and have no more fights or he would be expelled.
The five-day suspension upset Harris, who felt it wasn't severe enough under the circumstances, and led her to take out a juvenile petition against Merchant. Harris works as a housekeeping supervisor at a Fincastle nursing home and lives with her three children in Buchanan.
The fight took place near the school gym when Montgomery and a group of friends playfully threw a mushroom at Merchant and an argument between the two ensued. Merchant and Montgomery used to date.