Dec. 2, 2019 11:30a
(WGTD)---The Indian Trail High School student who punched another in the head so hard that she suffered a concussion appeared in juvenile court Monday in shackles and handcuffs.
The 14-year-old admitted to charges emanating from the classroom punches and a separate case a few days later in which she reportedly damaged her mother's home and struck a law enforcement officer.
The girl is scheduled to return to court Dec. 9th for a disposition hearing, the juvenile court equivalent of sentencing. Until then, the girl was ordered by Judge David Wilk to remain in detention.
The Indian Trail incident received a lot of social media attention after the victim's mother went online to complain about the school district's handling of the matter.
Andrea Powers, a former teacher, pulled her child from the school because she feared for her safety. Powers said the offender was to have served an in-school suspension but an apparent screw-up resulted in the girl mixing temporarily with the general school population.
Speaking to a reporter after Monday's court session, Powers said the district is reviewing its handling of the case, including whether the offender would be allowed to return to Indian Trail.
For now, the girl is enrolled in the district's e-school program, according to statements made in court.
Meanwhile, the victim remains at Central High School in Paddock Lake. Her mother says she'd like to return to Indian Trail where all of her friends are.
The offender's mother told the assistant district attorney that's handling the case that her child's violent behavior was out of character. Reports that the girl had assaulted other students at a previous school she attended in New Jersey were made up by her daughter in order to intimidate her new classmates.
The school district hasn't commented on the case.
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