CPD completes investigation of juvenile case
<span>Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey confirmed, in a Friday news release, that his department's investigation into allegations of inappropriate and "possibly criminal" social media communications between a number of juveniles is complete.</span>
<span>Parents involved with the case have previously identified the suspect as a 16-year-old male Chester High School student.</span>
<span>According to copies of Facebook messages the Herald Tribune has received from affected parents, the unnamed student has allegedly contacted at least six other male juveniles - one as young as 11 years old - with requests for shirtless pictures and/or photos of their private areas.</span>
<span>"Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation and the fact that those parties involved are protected juveniles, very little information will be shared regarding our investigation," Coffey said in the release.</span>
<span>Coffey told the Herald Tribune in a phone interview on Friday that his department is turning the investigation over to the State's Attorney's Office.</span>
<span>Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker said there could be a "range of charges" to pursue in this case.</span>
<span>"There are usually multiple charges you could choose from that have a multiple range of penalties," Walker said. "There's a lot of different ways you can charge things."</span>
<span>Walker also described the process of his side of the investigation.</span>
<span>"Normally, what happens is once I receive the (police) report, I look through it and if I feel there is any additional investigation needed, I will ask (police) to do that," he said. "If not, I will reach out to the victims and their families, in this case the parents, and make a decision on what to charge."</span>
<span>Walker said he anticipated receiving the final police report early next week.</span>
<span>"</span><span>Based upon my conversations (with the Chester Police Department), I don't anticipate any further investigation is needed," Walker said. "It's certainly something we're taking seriously."</span>
<span>According to parents, police officers interviewed the juvenile suspect on Wednesday and updated parents on the investigation Thursday evening.</span>
<span>"Eric and April Wright would like to thank the Chester Police Department for their help," said Eric Wright, another parent who has spoken out on the investigation. "I had two officers visit me (Thursday) evening to provide an update."</span>
<span>Clinton Griffith, whose son is one of the victims, told local media that police had told him the juvenile initially denied the allegations before confessing.</span>
<span>"I was told at first he was denying it and then he admitted to it, that's what I was told (Thursday)," Griffith said. "Even though he's admitted to it, do I think he should get away with it? I don't.</span>
<span>"You can't slap him on the wrist with this."</span>
<span>During the Herald Tribune's phone interview, Coffey declined to say whether the juvenile admitted to the allegations.</span>
<span>"I'm not going to release any information on that," he said.</span>
<span>When asked if the student was allowed to return to school, Coffey said that was a matter for the school board.</span>
<span>"At some point, we'll have to bring the school in on these things once we discuss it with the State's Attorney's Office," he said.</span>
<span>As before, Chester District 139 Superintendent Chris Diddlebock said he has not heard anything.</span>
<span>"I still don't know officially who this kid is," Diddlebock said to the Herald Tribune on Friday afternoon. "I don't have anything that shows me anyone has done anything wrong at school.</span>
<span>"That student might be in school, might not, I'm not sure."</span>