Illinois Judge Lets Brawl Charges Stand

DECATUR, Ill. — A judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors can proceed with criminal charges against four teenagers accused of participating in a football game brawl.

The case sparked a national debate over “zero tolerance” policies on violence in schools and brought the Rev. Jesse Jackson to this central Illinois town to protest.

The four teens--Roosevelt Fuller, Gregory Howell, Coryell Spates and Courtney Carson--are charged with mob action. Fuller also faces aggravated battery and misdemeanor resisting arrest charges.

Judge Jerry Patton did not set a trial date.

Two detectives testified that the Sept. 17 melee in stadium stands was rooted in an ongoing argument between Howell and a juvenile student, whom they identified as members of rival gangs.

Spates had already graduated, and Howell resigned from school during expulsion proceedings. Fuller, Carson and four others were expelled for two years by Decatur’s school board.

The expulsions eventually were halved, and the students were allowed to enroll in another school.