The teen would still face lesser misdemeanor and summary offenses, including disorderly conduct
Nearly a month later, a teenage defendant charged in connection with the volatile student-led ICE protest in Quakertown is expected to see his most serious charges dropped, according to his attorney.
The Bucks County Courier Times reported that Easton attorney Don Souders Jr. said Wednesday that the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office has offered an agreement that would dismiss both felony counts against his 16-year-old client.
The teen would still face lesser misdemeanor and summary offenses, including disorderly conduct, but could be diverted out of the juvenile court system if approved at a Friday hearing, per the report.
Under the proposed resolution, the teen would remain under probationary supervision for six months, with current house arrest lifted. Souders told the news organization his client does not admit guilt under the agreement and, if he complies with conditions, the remaining charges would ultimately be dismissed and expunged.
The case stems from a Feb. 20 protest in Quakertown, where roughly 35 high school students left campus after an on-site demonstration was canceled. The situation escalated in the downtown area when a confrontation broke out between students and Quakertown Police Chief Scott McElree, who was in plain clothes at the time.
Attorneys for the students have argued that their clients did not recognize McElree as a police officer when he attempted to detain a protester. Video of the incident, widely circulated online, appears to show McElree using force against multiple teens. Several students were reportedly injured and required medical treatment.
The incident has sparked ongoing controversy, including public protests, calls for McElree’s resignation, and a formal investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney into police conduct. Additional hearings for the remaining juvenile defendants are scheduled as the cases continue to move through the court system.
For more details, read the full report here.
