ROCKY MOUNT, VA. -- Three teenage counselors at a 4-H camp were charged Thursday with child abuse, disorderly conduct and assault for allegedly forcing young campers into bare-knuckle fights, then charging admission and allowing betting.
Two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old were charged in juvenile court with 24 felony and 34 misdemeanor counts. The counselors, whose names were not released because of their ages, worked at the camp near Smith Mountain Lake from June 30 to July 4.
Franklin County prosecutor Cliff Hapgood said the counselors helped organize fights that involved eight boys between the ages of 10 and 12.
Sheriff Quint Overton said other campers were charged $1 for admission, and the counselors and children bet up to $4 per fight.
By the time the campers left for home, several had black eyes and one had broken his hand as a result of the fights, Overton said.
Authorities learned about the fights when the father of one camper called to complain about his son returning home with a black eye.
Two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old were charged in juvenile court with 24 felony and 34 misdemeanor counts. The counselors, whose names were not released because of their ages, worked at the camp near Smith Mountain Lake from June 30 to July 4.
Franklin County prosecutor Cliff Hapgood said the counselors helped organize fights that involved eight boys between the ages of 10 and 12.
Sheriff Quint Overton said other campers were charged $1 for admission, and the counselors and children bet up to $4 per fight.
By the time the campers left for home, several had black eyes and one had broken his hand as a result of the fights, Overton said.
Authorities learned about the fights when the father of one camper called to complain about his son returning home with a black eye.
