On September 16, 2022 my youngest son James was involved in his first fight( Ever) The fight was at Plainfield South High in Plainfield  Illinois (Distract 202).  The fight began with a group of 17 year old boys questioning my son and some of the boys at school he knows about a nicotine pen being stolen.

I believe the guys thought between my son and boys he was around at the time had stolen it. When my son was approached and  questioned about the vape pen he told them he had no idea what they were talking about and he moved away from them. They continued to ask the young men 15,15,15,(14 James at the time but as of October 21 he know to is 15 years old and can be charged as a Juvenile). As the 17 years old boys continue to ask the others a fight broke out.

 When the fight first broke out my son James was not yet involved until he saw one of his friends being jumped by the other boys my son admitted and it has been seen on video when my son James enters the fight to help his friend at the time James was not thinking about the consequences for fighting in school and what the result would be; yet we never imagine the terror of punishment he would receive!

There was a School monitor who tried breaking up the fight and was hit in the head several times and James was not one who struck them. During a meeting that took place(2weeks after the fight) James gave a verbal statement and apologize to The Assistant Principal, Dean, and Board Member /Attorney who came down get all the information on what happen to give to the board to make a decision! I will never forget what the attorney said to my son James( You don't look like the usual knuckle heads I deal with). Going back to the fight and arriving to break up the the fight was the Assistant Principal, One of the Dean's, and the school police officer.

 As the fight broke up My son and boys he was around were all taken to the office and on the way their My son's Dean decided that on the way to the office with James that he would hit him until he asked him if he was just going to continue to hit me as the Dean said 'Whos going to stop Me".

There are several witness that can attest to this happening. Not even 10 minutes later my son and the boys with him were all Arrested. I was notified by a parent/  neighbor who was are of what going on saw my son getting arrested and immediately came to my home to tell me I needed to get to the police station right away that they arrested my son I needed to hurry and go get him.

This was beyond scary and I didn't know what to do or think. A long with my son James I have three other children/ Young Adults (20,18,17) none of which have ever be a problem for the police or anyone else. I received a phone call from the school on the way to the police station which I thought was extremely weird.

I got to the Plainfield police station which is about 4 mins away from my home. When I got there I waited about 30 min before they let me see my son and I asked why wasn't I notified and I was told by the officer the school said they did not have my contact information which is so false.

I'm active parent in my children's lives and I keep up with what is going on and I'm on call if they need me and that is a known fact; Yet Plainfield South decided to do things differently this day. James was released and I was told he didn't have any charges or had to go to court and we went home.

On Monday September 19 I received my first call about what occur on the 16th and I spoke with a woman secretary who was told to inform me that James should stay home Tuesday the 17th and that he was not suspended and he could come back the next day because they were still investigating everything.

On September 20 I was notified via phone that James was being suspended for 10 days and I was enraged because the school was still withholding information from me and the others parents of the kids that were arrested which again was my son and young boys he was around not the young boys who started the fight.

None of the boys who my son and the others fought was arrested not one! Infact I was made aware the boys fighting with my son and the others all got a free pass. Yes I said Free Pass, and they were not suspended but told to stay home until things were cleared up. Oh did Plainfield South High cleared things up.

When I found out about my son James being hit on by the Dean I immediately reached out to family and close friends on what to do this is the second time someone at school has put their hands on my son and I knew I had to do something in which I contacted The Department of Family and Children and Aging services to report this because no Adult let alone any school official should be allowed to put their hands on anyone.

I was contacted immediately by social worker who stopped by and talked with James and my family and from there and other things they were ready to go forward but I became afraid if we went through with it that my son wouldn't have been able to go back to school where I have two Seniors as well Nicole 18, Justin 17. It's important to me that you guys out there all know the facts!

Prior to James going to Plainfield South he had offers to go to three different schools on a basketball scholarship but turned it down to spend one last year with his siblings at Plainfield South in which now we've come to regret! Now that I had gotten others involved about my son and the dean has become aware that he could lose his license and even go to jail. So the school decides retaliation After what I had done to protect my son.

After James stayed out for 10 days we were notified again via phone and email that my son could not come back to school yet The school board district 202 would be having a board meeting on October 11th to decided whether my son would return to school.

Their decision was to place him in a an alternative school for two years and to stay away from all district 202 schools. All the places where he knows everyone and they know him. If you ask people about James they would stay you some funny awesome story that made them love him more.

James is a good kid who made a mistake and now is being punished by the law because I stood up for him. I will never let some one just take advantage of my son. A

After almost a month out of school I reached out to so many people at the school board and no results but I finally talked to the Assistant Superintendent.

I told her I felt that the delivery of the news that my son couldn't come back felt cold and she told me that she is sorry it came off that way and I explained to her who my son is and she just did not care and told me this was a final decision and there could be no appeal.

I've reached out to the Governor Pritzker office for help because this is to much and approximately 3 weeks later mid October a sheriff served me with court documents I could not believe.

I saw the my son James is now facing 4 Class 3 Felonies for the fight and now some statements have changed and my son is now being charged 2 counts Aggravated Battery, 1count of Mob Association, and 1 count of Disorderly Conduct with each charge caring a 5-10 years in Illinois!

I need everyone's help to stop Plainfield South high school and  District 202 from abusing their power to protect their own and  destroy the life of young man who made a mistake and serve his punishment.

Yet it continues everyday he has to go to this school. I feel so stupid because I thought that things would get better and yet my son and I our fighting for his life and I still don't know the names of the kids James was fighting.

The Principal and Dean told me  that information was private. They wouldnt even let me or my family see school cameras. We know nothing about them but they think they know us and I'm grateful for all of the people who really  know James and my family.

Hundreds of people will vouch for my son and his credibility as person,son, brother and best friend to many! Also let me give you some more important facts. All the kids Arrest including my son were all of color the boys they were fighting were all Causasian and they did not get suspended, arrested or charged with any crime.

I hate that Plainfield South has made this about Race because that is not how I raised any of my children and to be completely honest 90% of James friends are Caucasian and he just doesn't understand why they want to lock him up for years.

The pain my family has had to endure from all of this and I'm going sit here and believe that my son deserves this. No kid does my son is the most spirited and joyful kid I know. 

 Each day that we get close to the Court date that will determine his entire life he has been depressed and it's hurts seeing my son in so much pain. My son's Court date is November 8 at Kendall County Court House.

Please help spread this around and stop them from destroying another young Black mans life. Please come down and support James November 8. Let Kendall County Court know they have the wrong teen.

 I need all the help I can get in fighting this.

When they served me court documents under father they put Unknown which is not true. All of my children have same father and is not unknown. They're trying to Create their own Narrative of me but I'm not going to let that happen.

I'm going to fight for my son and all the others out there who can't do it for themselves. This is not the  law protecting our children this is destroying them and I need your help stoping them. Please share this with everyone one you know. 

I never thought I would be in something like this and I can now imagine what others parents like me have been through. I won't let them break us. I will never stop fighting for my son! I'm ready to talk to all Media outlets and anybody who sees this and wants to help. #JusticeForJames