Girard student can graduate
By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY Tribune Chronicle
POSTED: May 20, 2008
WARREN — The Girard student who administrators say hosted a pot party at his home where other students drank alcohol withdrew his complaint for a restraining order against the schools Monday.
And after talks between attorneys representing the schools and David B. West III, the two sides reached an agreement that allows West to receive a diploma, but not at commencement exercises June 1 with the rest of his class.
The senior, who was suspended for three days, is allowed to attend a senior awards luncheon Wednesday. But he can’t attend a senior breakfast May 30.
In the meantime, West’s attorney, Dennis DiMartino, said he’s suspicious of the fact that his client was charged only after he filed lawsuit against the schools May 8.
West, 18, faces arraignment this morning in Girard Municipal Court on a charge of furnishing alcohol to an underage person.
‘‘A prosecutor in Girard already reviewed the case and said there weren’t grounds for any charges,’’ DiMartino said. ‘‘I think it’s a very interesting chronology here. We file suit, then he’s charged.’’
School representatives had no comment after the hearing in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, but DiMartino said he will pursue damages in the case when it resumes July 17 with a status conference in front of Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay. The attorney says his client is a victim of selective prosecution and that other students at the party weren’t punished to the extent West was.
Problems for West started April 13 when he said others students showed up at his house after he got off work.
‘‘Some of those people had beer and marijuana there. I didn’t bring any nor did I give or sell any beer or marijuana to the other kids from school. I didn’t even drink any beer or smoke marijuana,’’ West stated in an affidavit that accompanied the lawsuit.
Girard police arrested a number of youths and adults on charges of underage possession of alcohol and supplying alcohol to minors. West originally was not charged with anything.
Principal William Ryser notified West’s parents in a May 2 letter that their son would not be able to participate in senior activities because he ‘‘... hosted a party in which underage students consumed alcohol, and caused a disruption or interference with school functions by suggesting violence against and verbally abusing the student whom he believed reported him.’’
cbobby@tribune-chronicle.com
Member Comments
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harley
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05-22-08 9:17 AM
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So if the prinipal's son was able to attend ceremonies after selling drugs why can't this kid. Not a fan of the West family but there were alot of other kids with names busted at underage drinking parties that still attended their senior ceremonies but of course they were the "athletes" of the school. I understand what he did was wrong & he should have to take whatever is handed to him but it wasn't on school time so should be between the police & his family. Maybe this will be a lesson learned for other students & parents. It's the same in alot of schools it all depends on who you or your parents are.
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curious
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05-21-08 3:54 PM
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You are right, it's all about the last name. The student who was charged with dealing drugs was the Prinicpals son. And yes, he was allowed to attend commencement ceromony.
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Billdog
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05-21-08 11:32 AM
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I guess Marty is not only a Philosopher but a Doctor as well. Maybe he smoked one to many joints in his time. Now he is the braindead iditot that that the nieghbors think is retarded.
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harley
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05-20-08 10:43 PM
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Shame on his parents for allowing him to have party's like this at their home, what were they thinking. But wasn't it last year that Girard had students charged with dealing drugs off school time & they were still allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony. Maybe it's all in the last name.
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concerned
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05-20-08 11:28 AM
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The following quote comes from WebMD Medical News. "A 2001 study suggested that marijuana smoking increases the risk of heart attack in the hour immediately after smoking." I'm not taking my chances.
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concerned
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05-20-08 11:13 AM
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Please forgive Marty, he is down to his last brain cell.
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MartyWhite
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05-20-08 11:07 AM
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Bildog, I have never ever once in my life heard that someone overdosed on marijuana. Alcohol poisoning yes, but OD on marijuana, get real. {Lights marijuana cigarette}
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Billdog
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05-20-08 10:50 AM
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Under age drinking and substance abuse has caused a gread deal of problems in the world. Anyone that condones it is not thinking clearly. I do agree it isn't any of the schools business if it didn't happen on school grounds. This principal needs to get the district sued once or twice and not only will he not have a job, but the district will think twice about letting someone make up rules as they go. Shame on the parents that allowed to happen at their home. If one of these kids would have ODed or hurt themselves or someone else then everyone would be screaming that the parents was irresponsable and want to sue them. It's always fun until someone looses an eye.
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pahootaman
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05-20-08 9:14 AM
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Exactly iwcel1952, isn't it a little far reaching for the school district to reprimand a student outside of school. Minas well suspend kids when they're caught shoplift or give them saturday detention if they get a parking ticket. Come to think of it, these kids were kind of responsible. They didn't go joy riding while drunk and they pretty much kept to themselves the entire time.
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iwcel1952
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05-20-08 8:51 AM
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This is an age old thing that students have done since the begining of time, Give it up and let them have some fun.We do pay for are children to get an education. U You should always get what you pay fro. And for the boy who told on them, well Mess not and you will not get messed with
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