Schools

Seaholm Student Facing Racial Charge Granted More Time For Case

The Seaholm senior is facing up to two years in prison or a $5,000 fine if convicted of ethnic intimidation in incident involving racist graffiti.

The lawyer for Courtney Thomas, at , was granted more time for information-gathering during a  pre-exam conference Tuesday in 48th District Court.

At the conference, Thomas, his lawyer Wendy Barnwell and assistant Oakland County prosecutor Brett Chudler appeared before Judge Diane D'Agostini. Thomas and could face up to two years in prison or a $5,000 fine.

Barnwell asked D'Agostini for a continuance of the pre-exam period and the judge granted it, asking the lawyer and prosecutor to agree on a time to meet in three weeks.

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"I hope to analyze this information to make a proper decision for my clients," Barnwell said.

at his arraignment May 18. Thomas has already been suspended from Seaholm after admitting to the incident May 11.

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Chudler said he had no problem with the continuance.

"We want to make this difficult situation work for her client and for the community at large," he said.

Barnwell contends that Thomas is a "good kid" and has been the victim of bullying during his four years at Seaholm. The graffiti in question targeted five black students at Seaholm, including Thomas.

Eugene Rogers, president of the North Oakland branch of the NAACP, said the group is currently offering a $1,000 reward for any tips concerning five other racial incidents that have occurred at the school since late April, including more graffiti and racist notes sent to black students and teacher.

If Thomas is guilty of the first incident, then "he should be held responsible," Rogers said. However, what the NAACP doesn't want is for the other five incidents to be swept under the rug.

Barnwell declined to comment after the hearing, though after Thomas's arraignment, noted an incident earlier in the year in which a white Seaholm student created a racially offensive flier. That student was suspended for 10 days, Birmingham spokeswoman Marcial Wilkinson said, since the stunt didn't involve a direct threat.

Chief Don Studt said police are investigating the incident now that it's been brought to their attention. The schools did not request police intervention when the incident occured in December, he said.

In the case of Thomas, the two parties must now decide on a date for another pre-exam conference in about three weeks. Thomas is currently out on personal bond, with a 7 p.m. curfew and a stipulation to stay away from Seaholm and the four targeted students.


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