Ninja trial set for August

River Hills — What happened in April in the woods behind Nicolet High School that led to the assault of a 14-year-old Bayside boy may finally come to light in a trial set for Aug. 6 in Milwaukee County Children's Court.

A 16-year-old River Hills boy, who allegedly dressed like a ninja and struck the victim over the right eye with a machete, has entered a not guilty plea to the charge of substantial battery.

The Bayside boy, along with three friends, entered the woods after school on April 27. The boys were looking for a person dressed like a ninja after hearing that two high school girls had been confronted by a boy the previous day. The Bayside boy, who was separated briefly from his companions, was assaulted by the River Hills boy, police say.

Because the case is in juvenile court, police reports and witness statements have not been made public, and what little is known about the case has come out in pretrial hearings, mainly from statements made by the father of the suspect. The father said his son had a job clearing brush on a neighbor's property and was working there when the incident took place.

River Hills police recovered a machete, a bow and sword from the suspect's home at the time of his arrest.

River Hills residents who own property abutting the Nicolet woods have complained in the past about high school students trespassing on their property.

Although the district attorney's office and suspect's attorney are working on negotiations to settle the case without a trial, Judge Fredrick Rosa moved ahead with plans for the trial. At a pretrial hearing on July 15 in Children's Court, Rosa said both the defense and the prosecution plan to call eight witnesses.

Both the schedules of the two attorneys and of the Children's Court had to be considered in scheduling the trial.

Rosa also ruled that the suspect will continue to be monitored by an agent of the juvenile court system. He was allowed to return home in June, but is allowed to leave his home only with his parents.

He is subject to monitoring checks and must notify his agent of his movements in the community.

NEXT STEP

WHAT: Substantial battery trial

WHO: 16-year-old River Hills boy accused of attacking a 14-year-old Bayside boy with a machete

WHEN: 9 a.m. Aug. 6; 1:30 p.m. Aug. 11; and 8:30 a.m. Sept. 7 (if necessary)

WHERE: Milwaukee County Children's Court, 10201 W. Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa