Teens Sentenced For Racial Attacks On Students Two States Cooperated After Lewiston Incidents

Two youths involved in a series of assaults in Lewiston and Clarkston, Wash., including attacks on Japanese students, are serving time in detention centers.

A 16-year-old and 17-year-old pleaded guilty to felony malicious harassment for unprovoked attacks on Japanese students near Lewis-Clark State College. One of the students was admitted to the Lewiston hospital after being repeatedly kicked in the head.

The incidents sparked concern among the international community at the school.

Lewiston officers met with students to assure them they would be protected.

The specific Washington charges in the cases were not available.

The juvenile justice systems on both sides of the Snake River cooperated to come up with sentences for the youths, Nez Perce County Prosecutor Denise Rosen said.

“Both states have a hold on them for a good long time,” she said.

The 16-year-old who pleaded guilty to malicious harassment is serving 49 to 62 weeks in a Washington facility for the crimes in Asotin County.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of battery in the Lewiston incidents and will be on probation in Idaho until he is 21.

The 17-year-old has been through the Idaho system on charges of malicious harassment, battery and grand theft and is waiting disposition in the Washington case, Rosen said.

She expected him to serve up to one year and 16 weeks of incarceration and be on probation until 21.

Rosen said if they do not obey the rules of probation, they will end up serving time in Idaho.

“If they continue in this fashion, they will be playing in the big leagues,” she said.