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T.L. Hanna athlete faces $1k fine for assault
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Less than a week after a 17-year-old T.L. Hanna football player displayed his speed in a 95-yard kickoff return in a game against Gaffney, Anderson police arrested the athlete in connection with alleged gang violence in a city park.
Dominique Ellis of East Market Street in Anderson was arrested Tuesday after a 10:40 p.m. attack on a 15-year-old boy Sept. 24 at East Side Park on Jefferson Avenue, according to information obtained from Anderson police.
Ellis pleaded guilty Tuesday in Anderson Municipal Court to assault and battery and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,092.50 or spend 30 days in jail.
Ellis, a sophomore, and another T.L. Hanna football player, a freshman student whose name is not being released because of his status as a juvenile, have been suspended from school, according to a news release from Anderson School District 5 officials. The two students have also been removed from the football team for the remainder of the season, and the incident remains under investigation by District 5 officials, according to the release.
When Ellis said Tuesday that he has no way to pay the fine, Judge Ken Mattison told him to go to work, which would perhaps mean giving up football. Mattison also placed Ellis on a lifetime trespass notice from East Side Park.
Officer Jonathan McClellan testified that Ellis and a juvenile male confronted the 15-year-old as he played basketball and beat him in the head.
“Ellis claims a gang affiliation,” McClellan said during the court hearing.
Ellis, saying that the incident took place in relation to a girl, testified in court that he was told that the victim wanted to fight.
“He ran up, I swung,” Ellis said.
According to the police report, the victim was attempting to leave the park when “about 20 black males started surrounding him, and Ellis came up and struck him in the head with a closed fist.”
A juvenile male who was with Ellis also hit the victim, according to the report. It was not immediately known Wednesday morning if police have charged the juvenile.
T.L. Hanna coach Kenya Fouch said Wednesday afternoon that Ellis played last week in the T.L. Hanna loss to Dorman because the coaching staff didn’t learn of the incident until early this week. Ellis, the fastest player on the team, is one of the team’s top running backs, and a special teams returner. Before the Dorman game, Ellis had 22 carries for 114 yards. He also had four kickoff returns for 136 yards.
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What a waste!
I agree with Judge Mattison that Mr. Ellis needs to go to work to pay his fine. There are many other criminals out there without jobs that also need to go to work and stop depending on family members to bail them out. After age 17, in the criminal justice system, they are considered to be an adult. They need to grow up, act like adults and take responsibility for their actions.
sorry he cant pay -- get a job !! Do the crime you must pay the price... No synpathy here...
Thug.
No wonder he can run so fast!!!I can't believe the school system is allowing him to play that's like a reward for bad behavoir. When is Anderson going to wake up and do something about gang violence. Look around you it's everywhere you go! just look for the Reds and Blues!!!!!
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I'd like to see him do the 30 days in jail. Also he should be kicked off the football team for the rest of this season.
It's very simple ....
1> he should be put off the team for the rest of high school.
2> if he had any aspirations for a football scolarship that should be history as well.
You want to gang-bang, fine ... do it. But don't expect to be rewarded with an NFL spot.
The public would be surprised and outraged at the things athletes in the district are allowed to get away with inside and outside the classroom and still play ball. There's no accountability.
If you simply drug tested these kids, most of them would be off the team.
I know I would have been.lol
It appears that the Coach is not to concerned about this, I certainly hope the school does not pay his fine. He should be kicked off the team and coach should learn that you make decisions based on the Law not the school system.
When I was in high school T.L.Hanna high was "the" school. It had the reputation of being the school of the upper class and the majority of students who went there went on to professional careers and wealthy lifestyles. Obviously it has changed. Putting aside the people who attended, the school had a top notch reputation in and out of SC. Shame its image has to change and its standards have been lowered to accommodate trouble makers for the sake of winning a football game.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS SAD... THE SCHOOL CAN'T KICK HIM OFF THE TEAM FOR BEING A GANG BANGER, OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET RID OF HALF THE TEAM. THIS GOES FOR WESTSIDE TOO. THE SCHOOLS NEED TO STEP UP AND SAY IF YOU ARE ARRESTED FOR WHATEVER REASON, NO SPORTS. AS FOR DRUG TESTING I THINK THE SCHOOL IS AFFRAID OF WHAT THEY WILL FIND. COME ON SCHOOL DISTRICT'S IF YOU DO NOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. GET THE THUGS OUT OF SCHOOL AND PUT GOD BACK IN THE SCHOOLS.
in response to herenow
HERENOW, YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT HANNA WAS "THE" SCHOOL. I WENT TO WESTSIDE, THIS WAS THE COOL SCHOOL THEN OR RED NECK SCHOOL, OF COARSE MCDUFFIE WAS A LITTLE MORE RED. HANNA DID HAVE THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE UPPER CLASS. NOW IT IS KNOWN AS JUST ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL WITH THUGS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, LIKE THE OTHER SCHOOL'S AROUND THE COUNTRY. I DATED A HANNA GIRL, SO I KNEW ALOT OF THE HANNA STUDENTS. MOST WERE GOOD PEOPLE, WITH THERE NOSES TURNED UP JUST A LITTLE, BUT GOOD PEOPLE. NOW THE THUGS ARE THE STAR PLAYERS. WATCH THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SEE HOW MANY OF THEM ARE INVOLVED IN SHOOTINGS IN ANDERSON COUNTY. KICK THE THUGS OFF THE TEAM. THIS MIGHT WAKE SOME OF THEM UP BEFORE THE PRISON SYSTEM GETS THEM.
in response to dragonfly
If I read this story correctly, the players have both been removed from the team for the remainder of this season.
in response to marlenelee
in the original story the coach said they would b able to play. the decision to remove them from the team came from the district just last night
Not all players do drugs or gangs. My son plays for Hanna and he is a respectable young man. Lets give some credit to the young men and women who go to school and are not involved in drugs or gangs. To all of you we are proud of you, keep up the good work.
Thank you Anderson School District 5! It is a hard, but wise decision to remove these students from the team. We must put a STOP to violence among our youth!
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION HERE? THE KID ADMITS HE DID IT; ADMITS HE HAS GANG AFFILIATIONS; SEEMINGLY SHOWS NO REMORSE FOR HIS ACTIONS; AND THE JUDGE SAYS "IF YOU CANT PAY THE FINE I SUGGEST YOU GET A JOB"??? THROW THE KID IN JAIL FOR THE 30 DAYS AND GIVE HIM A TASTE OF HIS FUTURE IF HE STAYS AFFILIATED WITH GANGS. ONCE AGAIN THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS KIDS ACTIONS. THATS PROBABLY THE REASON HE IS IN THIS PREDICAMENT TO BEGIN WITH. THE POLICE ARE DOING THEIR JOB AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE JUDGES TO DO THEIRS TO GET THESE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL AND OFF THE STREETS. AS FAR AS HIS FOOTBALL CAREER BEING OVER FOR THIS SEASON, IT SHOULD BE OVER PERIOD!!!
I wonder why AIM decorated this article with the Friday Night Football theme?? They don't do it for any other crime story. Something of a subliminal message here, guys? I would suggest taking it off, it is doing nothing but glorifying the whole sorrid affair.
Hold on -
Am I the only one old enough to remember when boys fought over girls all the time and no one was hauled off to jail. Common sense has surely left our lives.
What have any of YOU done lately to help the youth of our community? What gives YOU the right to call this guy a "thug" or a "gang banger"?
Shame on you for judging others so harshly - have you the right to cast the first stone? What would Jesus do?
in response to Luc
Amen,
I can almost guarantee that none of these people calling that kid a "thug" have done anything positive to help the youth. I also remember when I went to T.L. Hanna, there was a certain star player (that came from an upscale family) on our team that punched a guy in the nose over his girl. I didn't hear one single person call him a "thug". That incident was labeled "boys being boys".
20 boys surrounded one 15 year old boy ,then 2 of them beat him.
That's not being a thug,that's being a punk.
He's 17 and can't fight a 15 year old by himself,yeah he's a real bad*ss.
in response to get_real
AMEN get_real! The kid is a thug and it seems a coward too. Stop defending this kid. He admitted to being in a gang and gang members are cowards. Thus the term "gang". Youre dead wrong Luc. We arent casting stones, the kid cast his own stone by his own admission.
All I Can Say Is GET THIS BOY A LAWYER!!!!! ASAP! He's A Minor and was there a adult present when he was taking into custody as a minor? I'm not aware of S.C. laws but as his Civil Rights He should have had an Adult Present Before he said ANYTHING!
in response to jayson_704
OK YOUR RIGHT, LETS CALL IT WHAT IT IS. "THUGS WILL BE THUGS"
in response to Luc
Thank you Luc,
Goodness it was a fight. the punishment does not fit the "crime" what about the 8th Amendment? no excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. the fine is excessive. period!
Perhaps those commenting on this story (or any story for that matter) should not believe everything you read in a newspaper or hear on the television.
Maybe you should cross reference your sources (media vs. Coach Fouch, TL Hanna, District 5 or any other parties involved) prior to posting comments that are purely ignorant, grammatically incorrect, biased and, my biggest pet peeve, use words that aren't spelled correctly (I did cross reference the latest edition of Webster's - a dictionary for those of you who may not be familiar) to ensure that words were misspelled prior to submitting this comment. I examined all sides. I truly believe in free speech but I also believe that one should examine all sides of the story first.
The second step should be to decide if you would actually have submitted the same biased (or one-sided) comments after taking the time to examine ALL of the FACTS. If all bases are covered, then feel free to voice your opinion. This is obviously my opinion and my advice. Being that I sincerely feel I have extensively cross referenced all sides of the story, I do appreciate the posts made by you as I enjoy the comical value they add. Do you really think that the actual decision makers are going to read these comments and take the advice of those who apparently cannot spell words (or just make them up as they type) and butcher the English language as well? My guess is no. But stranger things have happened and always will.
in response to robert
Coach Fouch should not be judged by his actions. He didn't make this mistake. Robert, could you please refer me to a law that states that a player is to be removed from a team because they pled guilty to a crime (I am not in anyway condoning crime. I am curious to know if a law exists concerning this matter or if the coach was ordered by a court of law to dismiss this player. I feel certain that, had a court order been issued to remove this player from the team, the coach would have obliged immediately.)?
in response to tricegb
Have you lost your mind? You think his fine is too much, and you think he needs a lawyer? Also you and Luc worried about how many people commenting on this thug have helped in this community?!? I honestly cannot believe you two!! Just for your info, I have served 2 tours in Iraq, also I serve my Country and my God every day, I serve to protect my country that I am proud of. It makes me SICK to think someone would think to say he needs a lawyer or worry who is casting a stone, GET REAL, this young man needs alot more then what he got. A fine? Big deal, put him in boot camp, or better yet put him in jail, he would not be so tough there, he would get a dose of his own medicine. He respects noone, He has no respect for you or your family, he is gang affiliated, do you know what these gangs do? They are not out volunteering at the Salvation Army or helping at the soup kitchen, I assure you. These people are very mean, and for him to be affiliated with a gang tells of his character. For the ones who think gangs are not in Anderson, think again, they are here and getting bigger and bigger. How would you feel if that was your child that was hurt? You better wise up and see this for what it is. It is seriously a thug being a thug that got caught!!! The way you are talking, the next thing you will probley say, is that it was racist!! I wish people would STOP trying to justify crime and see it for what it is..CRIME. I would be glad to take him to Iraq and show him some real fighting, I dont think he would be such a bad a** without 20 or so of his gansters with him.
I also agree with Luc and Jayson on this one. I think before everyone gets on here and posts, you should be aware of what the FACTS really are in a case. If you've never made any mistakes as a kid, then go ahead and cast all of your stones. The FACT is that the Anderson Police has made a MISTAKE and admitted that he IS NOT IN A GANG! From what I understand he's a decent kid that got into a fight, which is something that most people have done one time or another. Everyboy fought over girls/boys or he said/she said when we were kids, but we weren't hauled off to jail. And by the way, when somthing happens off campus, why is it tied to school? If he excels in football that may be his ONLY opportunity to GET OUT OF ANDERSON. Why should that privilege be taken away over one incident? It was ONE fight, the police have admitted no gang affiliation, he should be allowed to return to his normal activities and be given a SECOND CHANCE!
I personally can not believe that AIM changes articles and there content. If there are updates or changes to the story line then write another story, changing a story shows a total lack of integrity making it hard to trust any of the so called information in this news paper
in response to softballgirl
SBG:
You are pretty hard on this boy (yep still a boy, they mature slow!)! Have you forgot what it was like to be a teenager? I remember very well- you make dumb mistakes and he surely did that. Most people aren't perfect, I made mistakes, but they didn't put me in jail. Fights happened over girls/boys and like this incident, NO weapons were used, but to call him a thug (cops said he is NOT a gang member) is uncalled for. He is not a repeat offender, boot camp? You have got to be kidding! I found out with my girls, taking away what they like the most- gets their attention- for him its football. If it was my child that was hit, I would be upset, but I would be thankful no bones were broken and he was NOT shot or stabbed, he wasn't admitted to the hospital. This teenager should not be allowed to play on the team for the remainder of this year (coaches should state that before the season starts, zero tolerance for bad behavior during school and after school). Let's step back and look at the entire picture.
in response to SayWhat
SayWhat,
I am hard on this kid, but I will say if he is not in a gang then I will have to ease up a bit. I would rather run a tight ship, then not. I do know kids do have spats, but this guy was not at home just having a small fuss! This guy was out with a group of guys and decided to hit a boy younger then him. I think if we punish our children, then they wont be in any trouble when they do grow up. I think the punishment for him should be whatever the law says it should be for fighting in public. As for school, dismissing him from the football team, in my opinion was correct. Entire picture is not as bad as before, you are correct!
There are two sides to every story. Just because you get into a fight does not mean you're a thug. Mr. Ellis had no control over the second guy jumping into the fight. How many of us would have ran back home, if I person came up to in an unfriendly manner. I think a lot of the comments are very harsh. You would be surprised at what children do when their parents are not around. I know this young man and I have never heard any speak about his association with a gang. Be very careful what you read and the comments you make.
in response to Luc
Because the kid is a thug.
It isn't the fact he fought over a girl, I did. But when 20 of your buddies come in, and you try to beat the kid to death, and you are affiliated with a gang (as I'm sure his 20 "friends" were) then you are by classification a thug (I call a wanna be thug, because I've been around real thugs, like in Chicago).
The kid needs to be banned from high school sports, put in jail for 30 days, and get his academics in line (a 17-year old sophomore?? He should be a junior or a young senior by now).
What have I done to help the community...soup kitchens, AIM, assistant coached rec baseball.
I'm ashamed this kid goes to Hanna, myself being a grad. I remember just in 2006 it was still "the school." I could see the change coming behind me, and now it has burst open and absolutely turned the school into just another high school.
in response to softballgirl
It was a fight. period. you say you fought in Iraq, well you also fought for the right to protect our 8th Amendment. Thank you and if I had away to get in touch with this young man parents I would let them know to get an lawyer because is civil rights has been violated. And do know that there is always three sides to a story. But on the flip side softballgirl I do understand where your coming from, You live in a town that Is half way peaceful and you want to save it from "thug life" I do understand however theres a better way to do that besides throwing away the key to a "bad child" and he still is a child. because one day God forbid It may just be your child labled as the "thug".
in response to hnhenderson
I enjoy reading about whats going on in Anderson, I was raised there and thinking of moving back. for me it amazing to see how closed minded(some) people still are and not open to any type of change. No I dont think that my comments will change the out come of what happens to the people we read about. but maybe, just maybe the others that post comments will see everyone dont think like them, and realize that were in 2008 and not 1960's.
in response to tricegb
At 17 he's old enough to go to adult jail. Age 16 and under go to juvenile detention. In the eyes of the law the 15 year old victim is a juvenile and the 17 year old is an adult. Just like a 17 year old can be arrested for having sex with a 15 year old . It's confusing,it should be that at age 18 they're considered adults,not 17.
I can't speak for the rest of SC,but here in Anderson juveniles can be arrested and hauled to detention without a parent being contacted for hours.
I don't know if it's still in use,but there was a juvenile detention center in Belton that had tiny closet sized cells with big steel doors and the Dept. of Juvenile Justice here in Anderson would keep children locked in there by themselves for days without so much as a Bible to read. It was like being in a sensory deprivation tank.
Simple stuff like getting into a fight in school would result in kids being arrested and hauled to Belton. Then DJJ would let them out and give them a date to appear in Family Court where they could possibly get sent off to Columbia for a month or longer.
A simple charge like disorderly conduct can result in a child being incarcerated for days or weeks while an adult with the same charge would go to jail for a couple of hours ,pay a fine and go home.
Juveniles aren't even given the right to a phone call when arrested.
I questioned DJJ several years ago about how harshly they treat children who commit petty crimes compared to the way adults are treated. I was told that they're trying to teach kids a lesson. In my opinion they do more harm than good.
This 17 year old should be punished for the assault but he doesn't need 30 days in jail,he needs to stay in school.
Wake up people!!! When are we going to stop sugar-coating these "not-so-random" acts of violence and coddling these kids. If someone commits a violent crime they should pay for it. I don't care if they are a star-athlete or a hollywood socialite. This country was originally founded on the principals of equality and fairness. Obviously, truth and justice will not always prevail but we should damn sure try to keep the playing field as level as we can!! Why is there any mention of him running back a touchdown or how many %*$@#% carries he had???!!! What does that have to do with this story??? If these allegations are true (they certainly appear to be but I will abide by his right to be innocent until proven guilty), then he is an outright thug and should not be allowed to see daylight until he has served his time and his behavior has been "corrected". It's a shame that so many of these kids have to go to jail to find out what a real "bada$$" is!!
look everybody yall are making me sick how the way yall call him a thug, i know him and go to school with him and he is not in know gang and them 20 other people was not with him they was just watching, the park be full with people every day (so get ya story rite). taking football and school from him going to turn him into a real thug because its not going to be nothing else to do, he was going to be one of the few that was going to make it out the hood but yall are messing it up, he never got in trouble in school and wanted to go to clemson, he just lost his temper and did sumthing stupid nothing worth going to jail for
in response to AA12
Good thoughts-thank you for your input.
People tend to assume the worst and don't know what it is like to hang out there. But, the flip-side is that you guys need to learn from this and watch your behavior. It could easily happen to you.
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