Joe Stephens Sr., the father of the victim in Thursday's after-school fight at Mt. Hope High School, plans to get even with the assailant, but not with violence.
Stephens says he has been in contact with Bristol Police and Rhode Island State Police officers all day, and is disgusted that the boy who put his son in the hospital was only charged with assault.
"He got beat up because of the music he listens to," he said. "To me, that is a hate crime."
Stephens says officers told him that his son was hit once, but after seeing his son's injuries, he thinks there is more to the story.
"He has loose teeth, cuts on his face and was a complete mess when I first saw him," he said. "There's an abrasion on his neck and a huge bump that takes up his chin. It's not possible for all of those injuries to come from one punch and falling to the ground."
Stephens says he plans to make a trip to the District Attorney's office on Monday to discuss his options.
"We're definitely pursuing this," he said.
A half-hour before school let out, more than five police cruisers and undercover police officers were parked and patrolling the area around Mt. Hope High School. Stephens and his 19-year-old son, Mason, were there at the same time for a special meeting with Principal Donald Rebello to discuss what to do next. Stephens said the heightened security at the school startled him.
"Officers gave my son dirty looks because he was wearing an Insane Clown Posse sweatshirt," he said. "I asked them why they were staring at us, and one officer told me to keep my tone and voice down."
Stephens said he was escorted by not one, but three police officers, into the building and into the meeting with Rebello.
"I just kept thinking, I'm not the criminal," he said. "I have seven children and not one of them have a criminal record."
As for retaliation in school, Stephens says he hopes that his son's friends stay out of it.
"Things like this just make us look bad, but we're not the bad ones here," Stephens said. "We're originally from Fall River and my kids went to Durfee and they never experienced anything like this. We left Fall River to get away from this crap."
Stephens said to the best of his knowledge, his son will not be punished by the school for the fight. His son, who is a freshman at the high school, is home recovering with his family.
http://bristol-warren.patch.com/articles/fight-victim-s-father-to-pursue-charges-as-hate-crime
I'm doubtful of the fight being a hate crime. Beating someone up because they listen to a different style of music really isn't a hate crime and I don't believe it was solely just for the type of music Stephens Jr. was listening to. Kids just don't beat up other kids for the type of music they listen to. Maybe bully, but not cause serious injury. I'm not sure Stephens Sr. was in the right by allowing his son to attend the meeting in his "Insane Clown Posse" sweatshirt. I feel like that is just rubbing it in. I also don't believe Stephens was the victim of just 1 punch since he had multiple injuries everywhere on his face. There is way more to the story than anyone is willing to tell. As for the future, not much can be done beyond suspension unless they want to enforce a new dress code and completely ban music players altogether which probably won't be worth the effort.
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