Pubdate: Sat, 02 Apr 2005
Source: News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Copyright: 2005 The News-Herald
Contact:  http://www.news-herald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/305
Author: Scott Heasley, Staff Writer

PERRY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS CHARGED WITH INHALANT ABUSE

Two 14-Year-Olds To Face Juvenile Charges In Lake County Juvenile

Two Perry Middle School students will appear in Lake County Juvenile Court 
later this month to answer to charges accusing them of abusing inhalants. 
The 14-year-old Perry Township boys are accused of having "Clean Safe" dust 
remover on school property Feb. 23. Their names are being withheld to 
protect their identities.

The boys have been charged with abusing harmful intoxicants. The charges 
would be first-degree misdemeanors if they were committed by adults. One of 
the boys also has been charged with trafficking in harmful intoxicants. 
That offense would be a fifth-degree felony if it was committed by an adult.

That boy is accused of distributing or dispensing the dust remover, court 
records state.

He is due in court April 22 to enter a plea in the case. The second boy 
will appear in juvenile court three days later for a plea hearing. The boys 
were suspended from school following the incident. Perry Schools 
Superintendent Timothy B. Berkey said the boys have completed the 
suspensions. He would not disclose how long the suspensions were, and he 
would not comment further on the case. Lake County Prosecutor Charles E. 
Coulson said the boys could face a range of penalties in the juvenile court 
case, from having to do public service to a term in a juvenile detention 
facility.

The dangers of abusing intoxicants were highlighted earlier this year by 
the death of 14-year-old Kyle Williams of Painesville Township. Authorities 
believe Kyle may have died because of an accidental overdose after 
intentionally inhaling harmful aerosol-type chemicals. The Lake County 
Coroner's Office still is working on a final report on Kyle's death.

Meanwhile, Perry School Board is addressing the issue in a variety of ways, 
from holding special work sessions on the topic to making plans to have 
drug-sniffing dogs search the schools. 
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