Three of the nine teenagers accused of relentlessly bullying 15-year-old Phoebe Prince for months prior to her death in January are slated for arraignment today but not one of them will set foot in the Massachusetts courthouse.
Their lawyers filed paperwork waiving the teens’ right to appear at the Hampshire Superior Court proceeding.
Sean Mulveyhill, 17, of South Hadley is charged with statutory rape, violation of civil rights, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly.
Kayla Narey, 17, of South Hadley is charged with violation of civil rights, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly.
Austin Renaud, 17, of Springfield is charged with statutory rape.
On Thursday, three more accused teens face arraignment in juvenile court.
Ashley Longe, 16, of South Hadley is charged with violation of civil rights as a youthful offender.
Sharon Chanon Velazquez, 16, and Flannery Mullins, 16, both of South Hadley face charges of stalking and violation of civil rights as a youthful offender.
Three younger girls also face delinquency charges.
Phoebe Prince committed suicide after months of torment according to District Attorney Elizabeth Sehiebel. Her death and the subsequent charges leveled against 9 teenagers have caused a deep rift in the small town where some parents have called for school administrators to step aside.
“This has been extremely hard for us, extremely hard. Through lack of quick and decisive leadership, people have become polarized,” said parent Luke Gelinas.
Gelinas has two kids in the school system and would like to see Superintendent Gus Sayer and South Hadley High School Principal Dan Smith step-down.
“These teachers need leadership. This town needs leadership. These kids need leadership and that’s where this system has failed- in leadership,” said Gelinas. “We have the death of a child here. All we want is the truth and we want our schools back.”
As the community takes steps toward healing, Schiebel is seeking justice. When the district attorney announced the charges against the nine teenagers last week she acknowledged the patience and cooperation of Phoebe Prince’s family.
“The Prince family has asked that the public refrain from vigilantism in favor of allowing the judicial system an opportunity to provide a measure of justice for Phoebe,” said Scheibel. “Now is not the time for retribution or reprisal with an aim toward targeting those named in these indictments. Rather, this should be a time of reflection and thought about the role each of us can play in recognizing and teaching civility and respect for one another.”