Charges dropped against Clare teens for T-P incident

By Pat Maurer

Review Correspondent

Misdemeanor charges against three Clare High School athletes for toilet papering a teacher’s home last June have been dropped in Isabella County.

Matthew English, 18, Ryan Nivison, 17,  and Michael McFadden,17, were facing misdemeanor charges of littering on private property, a charge with a maximum sentence of 90 days and/or a $500 fine, for their part in toilet papering the Herrick Road home of Clare English Teacher Dawn Morris last spring.

The charges were dropped January 25, said Attorney Ghazey Aleck, who was representing the trio. “Justice was met,” he said. “The kids took responsibility for their actions and were disciplined. I think it was an appropriate resolution.”

Aleck said the decision to drop the charges was made after a staff meeting with the teacher, Clare Liaison Officer and Vice Principal. “I was notified that a decision was made not to go forward with the charges,” Aleck said.

Disciplinary action was originally taken by school administrators against the three Clare seniors and the fourth juvenile underclassmen June 11 with restitution including level 1 (first offense) disciplinary action and 20 hours each of community service prior to the beginning of the 2009-10 athletic season.

The misdemeanor charges were filed in December by Morris.

Charges against a fourth student, a juvenile, are in the process of being dismissed, Aleck said Tuesday. Officials at Clare County Probate Court said the charges are still pending and that a hearing on the matter has not been held.