Ian Friedman Discusses Possible Charges for Ice Bucket Attack

Sept. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- The attack on a teen with autism from Bay Village, Ohio has quickly drawn national attention. The young man believed he was participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that has gained large popularity on social media as a charity method. However, a group of teens allegedly dumped human waste, cigarette butts, and spit on the autistic teen instead of a bucket of ice water. Bay Village Police are still investigating the case, but said that the attackers have been identified.

There has been much outrage over the video, prompting celebrities like Drew Carey and Jenny McCarthy to each pledge $10,000 as a reward for identifying the teens involved. Police Chief Mark Spaetzel was grateful for the support, but commented that the money wasn’t needed, as they were already investigating the parties involved.

Law enforcement is being extremely thorough in their investigation, gathering all facts and details needed before they present the case to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. There are still several interviews and investigations that must be performed before investigators are ready to hand over the case.

Though he is not directly involved in the case, Fox 8 Cleveland (http://fox8.com/2014/09/08/police-identify-students-invol...) sought out Attorney Ian N. Friedman, a well-known law professor and criminal defense lawyer, for insight on the case. Attorney Friedman stated that though the act was incredibly atrocious and disturbing, it will be difficult for investigations to press charges against them, as there are limited offenses the acts will fall under. He explained that the act will not likely qualify as a hate crime, since Ohio law only includes race, religion, or national origin in definition of this crime, not disability.

Currently, there is an Ohio bill that has been proposed by Rep. Nickie Antonio that would specifically add language to include not only disability but also sexual orientation that is in committee. If this bill passes, it may be a game-changer in how these types of crimes are handled.

Attorney Friedman commented that as tragic as this incident was, the poor young man may be the spark that ignites this new law into action, providing protection for other kids facing similar attacks in the future. Since the incident took place off school grounds and prior to the school year being in session, Attorney Friedman also noted that it will be difficult for Bay High School to take any action against the students. This means that it will be up to investigators to provide prosecutors with enough information to bring charges against the juveniles involved in the attack against the young autistic teen.

Attorney Ian N. Friedman is a dedicated legal professional who provides fierce and aggressive criminal defense representation throughout Cleveland. He has been practicing law for several years and has a skilled legal team behind him.

The firm has won many awards and be given numerous recognitions in the legal world for their exceptional services. If you would like to learn more about the firm, visit www.iannfriedman.com.