A Georgia juvenile corrections officer was arrested after allegedly permitting juveniles in his facility to play a "battle sport," which led to the dying of a youth, in keeping with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Thomas Lee Hicks, 30, was charged with one rely of homicide within the 2nd diploma, two counts of cruelty to youngsters within the 2nd diploma, and one rely of violation of oath of workplace, the GBI mentioned Tuesday.
Hicks labored as an officer on the Waycross Regional Youth Detention Heart in Waycross, Georgia. Based on the GBI, a juvenile was reported unconscious on the facility on Aug. 9. Info given to officers indicated the youth was "within the presence of a workers member and different juveniles on the facility when he misplaced consciousness," the GBI mentioned.
The juvenile was transferred to Memorial Well being Hospital in Savannah, the place he later died. The identify and age of the juvenile has but to be launched.
Following an investigation into the incident, GBI officers decided that Hicks was allegedly permitting the juveniles to play a "battle sport" in his presence, which led to the dying of the juvenile.
Hicks was arrested Tuesday evening and is presently being held on the Ware County Jail. If convicted, he may withstand 75 years in jail for felony prices.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Georgia Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Commissioner Tyrone Oliver mentioned Hicks was fired, calling his actions "deplorable" and never consultant of the company's "core values."
"The Georgia Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is deeply saddened by the passing of one among our youths," Oliver mentioned. "We ship our heartfelt condolence to the youth's household, buddies, and family members, and so they stay in our ideas and prayers."