Six Moscow High School students and their families will talk to authorities after the youths allegedly stringed up a dummy in the wake of a suicide by a University of Idaho student.
A dummy with "I was a Jew" written on its chest was found Saturday morning in the University of Idaho's old arboretum, not far from where an Israeli-born U of I student committed suicide a month ago.The suicide was initially reported as a possible homicide of a black man and triggered publicity about a possible lynching.
Moscow Police Chief David Cameron said some students had admitted hanging the dummy after bragging publicly.
"My opinion is yes, it was only a prank," high school Principal K.C. Albright said. "However, even the idea that they (the students) thought it was a prank offends me. The act certainly didn't have any class."
Latah County Prosecutor Craig Mosman said felony charges of malicious harassment could be filed against all six if authorities could prove they intended to provoke an individual or group.
It is not necessarily the intent of police, however, Mosman said, to prosecute such a case when its consequences can be impressed upon youngsters in other ways.
"We have discussed an appropriate way to address the problem," said Mosman, who met with police and state youth services officials.
The prosecutor said he was pleased with the response of parents, all of whom have indicated they are "horrified and angry."
Wednesday was the first day of school and Albright said he and staff are discussing ways to build something positive from the negative mark the dummy incident has left.