SALISBURY, Md.- Prosecutors say two James M. Bennett High School students have been sentenced to 10 days behind bars for disturbing school activities in connection with a large student brawl.
According to the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office, Monia Ja’uniq Spence, 18, and Ty’mearrra Janae’ Purnell, 18, also of Salisbury, were both sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 28.
A third James M. Bennett High student, Kemiya Brenae Johnson, 18, of Salisbury, was originally found guilty of one count of disturbing school activities, but Wicomico County District Court Judge David B. Martz struck the guilty finding and entered probation for judgement.
All three students pleaded guilty to the charge of disturbing school activities.
Prosecutors said that on Nov. 18, 2019, Spence and Purnell were identified as primary participants in a fight at James M. Bennett High that involved at least 12 female students.
During the fight, one of the students discharged mace in the hallway and onto several of the participants.
One Wicomico County Board of Education employee suffered minor effects from the mace, along with several of the students who were treated by the school nurse for the mace effects.
Spence, Purnell, Johnson and one additional participant were adults and charged accordingly. The majority of the other fight participants were juveniles.
Following the sentencings, Dr. Donna Hanlin, superintendent of Wicomico Public Schools, issued the following statement:
“While our school staff and administrators would always prefer to prevent and intervene in response to student disciplinary matters, we also believe that strong accountability measures must be employed when our students are not responding to intervention strategies. The school system’s response with disciplinary measures is now being reinforced and strengthened through the collaborative efforts of all partners on the Youth Safety Task Force.
"We appreciate that cooperation and are hoping today’s announcement lets students, parents and our staff know that chronic disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Wicomico County Public Schools is filled with outstanding students and staff who are accomplishing great things each day, and we will continue to work to ensure they have the safest environment in which to thrive and learn.”