Jonathan Adams

Youngest “Jena Six” Defendant Removed from House Arrest

JENA, La. (AP) — Jesse Ray Beard, one of the “Jena Six” defendants, is headed to New York after state District Court Judge Tom Yeager released him from house arrest for the summer.

Beard’s attorney, David Utter, said Beard will be taking part in a summer program in Bedford, New York, aimed at preparing him for his junior year of high school.

Beard is one of six black Jena High School students who were initially charged with attempted murder in connection with the December 4, 2006, beating of white student Justin Barker. Only one of the six — the other juvenile defendant, Mychal Bell — has been tried so far. He pleaded guilty to juvenile charges of second-degree battery. [Associated Press]

Posted at 1:23 PM, Jul 17, 2008 in Criminal Justice | Permalink | View Comments