Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
2 ex-Glen Mills staffers charged with assault in confrontation with student
Two former counselors at the Glen Mills Schools for Boys have been charged with assault in connection with the beating of a student in July captured by surveillance video.
Patrick Jameson Raquet, 34, of West Chester, and Christopher Medina, 31, of Kennett Square, each face charges of simple and aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child for the alleged assault of a 17-year-old student on July 19.
“We trusted the care of a juvenile to these two defendants, and rather than caring for him, as witnessed by about 30 people and recorded by several cameras, they
literally beat the breath out of him,” said Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland at a press conference announcing the charges Friday afternoon at the Pennsylvania State Police Troop K Media Station police barracks.
Station Commander James J. Hennigan said Medina was taken into custody by Avondale state police at his home Friday morning and Raquet turned himself over to state police later in the day.
According to an affidavit of probable cause written by Trooper John Hanosek, the assault occurred at about 3 p.m. in a day room at Johnson Hall, where a “guided group” meeting was taking place. Hannigan said there was some sort of verbal dispute between the alleged victim and another student that caused Medina to stand up, walk over to the 17-year-old and assault him.
The affidavit states that Medina slapped the victim in the head with both hands, then pulled him up out of the chair and threw him to the ground. Medina then pushed the alleged victim’s head into the ground and put his full weight on the boy’s right arm, according to the affidavit. Hanosek said Medina is 6’4” and weighs 320 pounds.
Medina then allegedly picked the boy up and walked him to a side door, where he grabbed him by the collar and forced him up a flight stairs. Once upstairs, Medina allegedly tried to push the boy into a bathroom. As the alleged victim was trying to talk to Medina, he punched the boy in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him, according to the affidavit.
As the boy sat on a couch and cried in pain from the punch, Raquet came out of his office, grabbed the victim by the head and also punched him several times in the face, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit indicates state police were called to the school and interviewed the alleged victim in the presence of his mother. Hanosek also watched video footage that matched the victim’s account, according to the affidavit.
“The conduct of these two defendants is simply unacceptable,” said Copeland. “Each one of them faces 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine simply for the aggravated assault.”
Hannigan would not comment on any other investigation that might be ongoing or say if additional charges might be coming for other defendants. He said the school was cooperating with the investigation.
“We promptly self-reported this incident to the Pennsylvania State Police,” said Glen Mills Schools Executive Director Dr. Randy Ireson in an emailed statement Friday. “This isolated incident did not uphold our stringent ethical standards and protocols. We are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations into this incident and are taking this matter very seriously. Our first priority has and always will be the safety of our students, so that they may lead full and productive lives.”
Medina and Raquet were preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Roberts and released on unsecured $200,000 bail, according to Copeland. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.
Common Pleas Court President Judge Kevin F. Kelly issued a statement earlier this week indicating Delaware County juvenile courts would halt any referrals to the Glen Mills Schools pending the outcome of an abuse investigation by Pennsylvania State Police and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services.
“The Delaware County juvenile court, as well as the attendant court and county agencies, since being made aware of the recent abuse allegations about certain now seemingly terminated staff, have and will continue to closely monitor the progress of the ensuing DPW regulatory investigation, any corrective plan of action the school may as a result be required to implement, and the outcome of the reported, current criminal investigation before considering any subsequent Glen Mills Schools referrals,” Kelly said.
The city of Philadelphia also has indicated they will halt referrals pending a review of operations at the Delaware County school.
The Glen Mills Schools is the oldest reform school in the country and currently houses 383 boys ordered to private placement by the courts, including two from Delaware County.
Kelly said neither those youths nor their parents have raised concerns about their placements to date with juvenile probation and children and youth services staff, or at court hearings regarding the placements.
“There have been private, in-person, on-site, at length contacts between these adolescents and Delaware County juvenile probation and children and youth staff, the most recent of which were this week,” said Kelly. “Similar to all past such interactions with probation and children and youth services personnel, the juveniles during these in-person visits explicitly noted age appropriate satisfaction with the respective programs, including the frequency and nature of parental contacts.”
Kelly added that juvenile probation and Children and Youth Services staff would continue to oversee the welfare of those children in person on at least a weekly basis, however, and court review hearings would be increased to once every 30 to 45 days instead of the usual six months.