Posted on March 7, 2022

Five Juveniles to Face Hate Crime Charges After Allegations of Bullying and Assault at a Sleepover

Philip Joens, Des Moines Register, March 2, 2022

Five juveniles will be charged with hate crime and assault charges after an incident at a sleepover on Friday, said Clive Police Lt. Mark Rehberg.

On Feb. 25, six juveniles ages 12 to 13 were having a sleepover at a house when five of them allegedly threw footballs and other objects at one child, Rehberg said. They also called the child racial slurs {snip}

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The Polk County Attorney’s Office determined that harassment and simple assault charges were appropriate {snip} But because racial slurs were allegedly uttered, the simple assault charges were upgraded to hate crime charges {snip}

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