ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — The eight Albany Middle School football players initially charged with aggravated assault for allegedly attacking a teammate have been adjudicated in juvenile court on reduced charges of battery and bullying, with no hate crime prosecution, Dougherty Judicial Circuit District Attorney Gregory W. Edwards said.

Edwards said investigators looked closely at whether the victim was targeted because of his race.

“That was something that cannot be tolerated in any instance in this circuit and would not be tolerated,” Edwards said. “There was no evidence after our investigation that indicated anything of that nature.”

He said there may have been “some talk of race,” but it did not rise to a hate crime charge.

“What it was, was an instance of bullying,” Edwards said.

Why aggravated assault was initially charged

Edwards said aggravated assault covers multiple people attacking one person using hands and feet as weapons, creating risk of serious bodily injury.

“That was the basis for the initial charge of aggravated assault based upon the investigation as it was reviewed,” he said.

After reviewing all evidence, including videos and input from the victim, prosecutors determined the injury was visible, but not serious enough to warrant the aggravated assault charge.

“The disposition was for battery… and again, the bullying is specifically addressing the conduct that was present here,” Edwards said.

Juvenile court dispositions

Edwards said school police initiated the case, and the juveniles had been held in detention in the weeks leading up to the hearings. He declined to say who ordered detention, nor would he comment on length of time they were held, noting juvenile court has jurisdiction over children ages 6 to 16 under Georgia law.

Each of the eight juveniles received an individualized disposition tailored to their involvement, he said. He would not discuss specifics.

“The court, we believe, appropriately gave a disposition for each individual involved,” Edwards said. “And we believe justice was served.”

Addressing public reaction to video of the incident, Edwards said the judge reviewed the same video.

“I saw what the judge saw, and the judge saw that. And that’s the real measure,” he said.

Edwards closed by saying protecting children is a reflection of the community.

“We’re not going to let any child be the victim of a hate crime. And we’re not going to let a child be a victim of bullying,” he said.

Dispositions in juvenile cases are confidential.

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