Shaquanda Cotton, 15, of Paris Texas, is entering the second year of a 7-year prison term for pushing a hall monitor at her high school 2005. Reportedly, there were no serious injuries in the incident and this was her first arrest. Cotton is black. The same judge had recently sentenced a white teenager to probation for arson.
During her imprisonment, Cotton has tried to seriously hurt herself three times. She says she is depressed and afraid of the other girls, most of whom have prior criminal records and serious felony convictions. She told Chicago Sun-Times reporter Howard Witt:
A guard at the prison where she is being held is accused of molesting four girls. The board responsible for overseeing the Texas juvenile justice system amid charges that they covered up sex abuse scandals in several of the facilities it oversees.
Cotton's supporters say that her case reflects a long-standing pattern of racist treatment in a town whose best-known landmark is the public fairgrounds where black men were routinely lynched as white spectators cheered. The court and prosecutors reportedly denied a Chicago Tribune reporter's request for comment.
Cotton's mother said her daughter was singled out because she accused the school district of racism on several occasions. In fact, 12 discrimination complaints have been filed against the school district in recent years. School district officials dispute the charges, but the US Department of Education, which is still investigating, has reportedly asked the US Department of Justice to investigate.
Shaquanda Cotton
Shaquanda Cotton (sometimes incorrectly referred to in the media as "Shaquandra" or "Shaquana") is an African-American girl who, in March 2006, at the age of 15, was sentenced to an indeterminate time not to exceed her 21st birthday in the Texas Youth Commission's juvenile detention facilities for shoving a hall monitor at her high school in Paris, Texas, U.S.A.[1]
The sentence
Shaquanda was tried in the town's juvenile court, convicted by a jury of "assault on a public servant" for allegedly shoving Cleda Brownfield, a hall monitor at Paris high school in the Paris Independent School District, and sentenced by Lamar County Judge M.C. "Chuck" Superville, Jr. to the Texas Youth Commission for up to seven years, not to exceed her 21st birthday.[2] She was sentenced when she was 14 and served over a year at Ron Jackson unit in [[Brownwood, Texas]. Since then the facility has been investigated for abusing many of the children placed there.[3]
[edit] The incident
According to trial testimony, the incident with the teacher's aide happened on September 30, 2005 about 20 minutes before classes began at Paris High School. The testimoney was conflicting. Teacher's aide Cleda Brownfield claimed to have locked the school building's door at 8:05 am in accordance with school policy. Brownfield testified that Cotton approached her, attempting to enter the building "saying she had to go to the restroom." Brownfield allegedly told Cotton she would have to use a restroom in cafeteria until the building was opened at 8:30. Cotton alledgedly asked to see the nurse to get her medication. Cotton left, then returned when she saw several white students being allowed to enter. Cotton asked why they were allowed to go in but not her. According to Brownfield and teacher Jerry Fleming, Cotton then allegedly told Brownfield "I'll knock your block off" and attempted to push her way in. Brownfield alledgedly put her hand up "in a defensive posture" and Cotton alledgedly "responded by shoving her." According to defense witnesses, Fleming and Brownfield shoved Cotton and injured her. Medical reports reveiled Cotton sustained a contusion to her head, a cut on her hand as well as a strained neck in the exchange.[[4] School authorities then summoned Paris Police officer Brad Ruthart (school resource officer assigned to the campus), who then met with both Brownfield and Cotton about the incident.[4]
According to Ruthart's testimony, Brownfield "was crying, very upset, holding her arm. I asked her if she was OK, and she said she was not. I felt she needed medical help. She was so upset she had difficulty talking." Ruthart testified that Cotton, who was being held in the office, "was very calm, didn’t appear to be a threat" at this point.According to Brownfields statement, she wanted to return to work but was told by Ruthart to go to the hospital. Ruthart was told by several teachers who were friends of Brownfield, that Cotton instigated the attack. Some students, who were described as Cotton's friends, stated that Brownfield "shoved first." Ruthart stated he preferred to believe Brownfields version and she was a "mild-mannered, soft-spoken, a grandmotherly type."[4]
Cotton did not testify at the trial. Brownfield testified that Cotton never requested to visit the nurse's office. Ruthart also testified that Cotton made no mention of needing to visit the nurse's office when he questioned her about the incident afterward. He also admitted that he never questioned her regarding her injuries[4]
Approximately two hours after the incident Brownfield was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital by ambulance. However, no evidence of injuries to Brownfield was ever produced at trial. Cotton's mother also drove her to the emergency room for the cut on her hand, head contusion and sprained neck suffered during the exchange.[4]
The sentence
Shaquanda was tried in the town's juvenile court, convicted by a jury of "assault on a public servant" for allegedly shoving Cleda Brownfield, a hall monitor at Paris high school in the Paris Independent School District, and sentenced by Lamar County Judge M.C. "Chuck" Superville, Jr. to the Texas Youth Commission for up to seven years, not to exceed her 21st birthday.[2] She was sentenced when she was 14 and served over a year at Ron Jackson unit in [[Brownwood, Texas]. Since then the facility has been investigated for abusing many of the children placed there.[3]
[edit] The incident
According to trial testimony, the incident with the teacher's aide happened on September 30, 2005 about 20 minutes before classes began at Paris High School. The testimoney was conflicting. Teacher's aide Cleda Brownfield claimed to have locked the school building's door at 8:05 am in accordance with school policy. Brownfield testified that Cotton approached her, attempting to enter the building "saying she had to go to the restroom." Brownfield allegedly told Cotton she would have to use a restroom in cafeteria until the building was opened at 8:30. Cotton alledgedly asked to see the nurse to get her medication. Cotton left, then returned when she saw several white students being allowed to enter. Cotton asked why they were allowed to go in but not her. According to Brownfield and teacher Jerry Fleming, Cotton then allegedly told Brownfield "I'll knock your block off" and attempted to push her way in. Brownfield alledgedly put her hand up "in a defensive posture" and Cotton alledgedly "responded by shoving her." According to defense witnesses, Fleming and Brownfield shoved Cotton and injured her. Medical reports reveiled Cotton sustained a contusion to her head, a cut on her hand as well as a strained neck in the exchange.[[4] School authorities then summoned Paris Police officer Brad Ruthart (school resource officer assigned to the campus), who then met with both Brownfield and Cotton about the incident.[4]
According to Ruthart's testimony, Brownfield "was crying, very upset, holding her arm. I asked her if she was OK, and she said she was not. I felt she needed medical help. She was so upset she had difficulty talking." Ruthart testified that Cotton, who was being held in the office, "was very calm, didn’t appear to be a threat" at this point.According to Brownfields statement, she wanted to return to work but was told by Ruthart to go to the hospital. Ruthart was told by several teachers who were friends of Brownfield, that Cotton instigated the attack. Some students, who were described as Cotton's friends, stated that Brownfield "shoved first." Ruthart stated he preferred to believe Brownfields version and she was a "mild-mannered, soft-spoken, a grandmotherly type."[4]
Cotton did not testify at the trial. Brownfield testified that Cotton never requested to visit the nurse's office. Ruthart also testified that Cotton made no mention of needing to visit the nurse's office when he questioned her about the incident afterward. He also admitted that he never questioned her regarding her injuries[4]
Approximately two hours after the incident Brownfield was placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital by ambulance. However, no evidence of injuries to Brownfield was ever produced at trial. Cotton's mother also drove her to the emergency room for the cut on her hand, head contusion and sprained neck suffered during the exchange.[4]
Rickey Smiley Speaks at Shaquanda Cotton Protest
Texas Teen freed from jail
Texas Teen freed from jail
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