Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/ohio-youth-pastor-avoids-manslaughter-conviction-pays-150-fine-after-indictment-flaw/
Youth pastor can thank prosecutor for “50 sentence in death of teen who he let ride on the side of his moving van – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
Canton Township, Ohio – A routine church outing turned tragic last September when a 14-year-old boy fell from the side of a moving van and later died from his injuries. The driver, a volunteer youth pastor, was initially convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Yet a defect in the original charging document ultimately stripped away that conviction, leaving only a traffic violation and its modest penalty.
The September Incident
On September 6, 2025, Rushon Patterson II was driving a church van for Alive Now Kidz Church in Canton Township. Several teenagers, including Malachi Nichols-Williams, climbed onto the outside of the vehicle for the short ride. The group spotted a pothole ahead and most jumped clear. Nichols-Williams stayed on the side. When the van hit the uneven pavement, he was thrown to the street and struck his head. The boy stood briefly after the fall but soon lost consciousness. He suffered a severe brain injury and skull fracture. Nichols-Williams remained on life support for several days before he died. Patterson, 27 at the time, later expressed deep regret through his attorneys for the loss of a child he had cared for in the youth group.
Initial Charges and Trial Outcome
Prosecutors filed counts of reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and the misdemeanor offense of…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-05-21 20:03:00
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