Four juveniles referred to court in case where Fargo, N.D., teen was beaten unconscious on school playground

FARGO, N.D. - Fargo police have referred four teenagers to juvenile court in connection with an April 26 assault that left a 15-year-old boy unconscious near the Madison Elementary School playground.

Two 15-year-old boys were referred for possible assault charges, and two 17-year-old girls were referred for disorderly conduct, Sgt. Mark Lykken said.

Police also are recommending an 18-year-old male be charged with disorderly conduct, he said.

Roger Allen Hellerud, 25, already faces a felony assault charge in Cass County District Court in connection with the incident.

Police and prosecutors won't discuss the suspected motive, but police reports include an account from a witness who said one of the attackers - a 17-year-old who is Hellerud's sister - told the boy to keep away from her younger sister.

The girl told the 15-year-old boy to "stop creeping on my sister," the witness recalled to police.

Witnesses told police that as many as five people are suspected in the attack on the playground near Madison Elementary, including three juveniles and another adult male, court records show.

The victim's mother, RaeAnn Overton, said she has no idea why her son was beat up, but she said it was the fourth time in the last year he's been assaulted.

After the attack at about 8 p.m., family members took the boy to the hospital, Overton said. Her son didn't sustain any fractures, but his face was bloodied, she said.

A 15-year-old boy who said he was involved in the assault told police that the attackers punched, pushed, kicked and stomped on the face of the victim, according to court documents.

Hellerud told police that he hit the boy once in the face, but denied assaulting him in any other way, the court complaint states.

The original report stated that three vans were involved in the incident, but the investigation found all suspects were in one vehicle, Lykken said.

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