NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton High School senior will complete a restorative justice program following a March incident in which he allegedly assaulted another student in the school’s parking lot.
As part of a pretrial agreement, Joshua Brown, 18, who appeared in Northampton District Court Thursday, was ordered by Judge W. Michael Goggins to complete the program.
Brown was one of three Easthampton High School students who were arrested March 30 in connection with a physical assault police say was preceded by a racist statement one student posted on social media days earlier.
Brown had earlier pleaded not guilty in court to charges of assault and battery and intimidating a witness. The two other students, both juveniles, were also arrested and their cases are being handled in juvenile court in Hadley.
The victim of the assault, who police allege posted the racist statement online, suffered a concussion after taking several punches to the head from the students arrested, according to court documents.
Court documents identify the victim as PJ Schadel, the son of School Resource Officer Alan Schadel.
Attempts to reach the Schadels for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.
In court Thursday, Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Yvonne Pesce told Judge Goggins the victim was very much in favor of the restorative justice program, which is a process that seeks to address and repair harms that result from violations of relationships and community. The program can take weeks to months to complete, according to the Northwestern district attorney’s office.
As part of his pretrial probation, Brown must complete the program as well as Peace Jam, an international education program for teens and young adults that works with Nobel Peace Prize laureates on a variety of topics including bullying prevention, rethinking life choices and personal power.
Other conditions include that he not get in any trouble with the law, not abuse the victim and pay $200 in restitution to the victim for lost wages.
More than two dozen people attended Brown’s hearing. Packing the benches of the sweltering courtroom, they listened intently to the proceedings. Brown’s attorney, Peter Lane, of Springfield, handed the judge a packet of letters Lane said were written by coaches, school administrators and teachers.
Skimming the letters, Goggins said he got a sense there were good people that felt very strongly about both parties involved.
“It seems to be a well-thought-out resolution,” Goggins said.
As Brown left the courtroom, he gave a hug and thanked the group that came to the hearing.
“This is the most appropriate resolution for a case like this,” Lane said.
Through the restorative justice program, Lane said all the parties involved would have a chance to address their concerns and hopefully move on.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.