CINCINNATI — An 18-year-old woman has been charged with assault in the beating of a Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School cheerleader on school property.
Brianna Singleton was arraigned Tuesday in Hamilton County Municipal Court on two counts of assault, a count of aggravated trespassing and a count of aggravated menacing. Court documents state Singleton was arrested Monday after she and four other people walked onto school property and confronted a Taft cheerleader and her mother.
Singleton and the other unnamed suspects began hitting both the cheerleader and parent on the head and upper body after a verbal altercation, according to sworn testimony from a Cincinnati police officer in an arrest report.
Cincinnati Public Schools provided this statement Thursday:
We understand that this incident stemmed from a dispute among young people that unfolded over time away from school. The alleged attackers were not Taft students and were repeatedly warned to leave school grounds before the altercation occurred. School officials and witnesses quickly broke up the attack, which lasted about 45 seconds. While isolated and rare, it is extremely disappointing when such inappropriate behavior occurs, especially on school grounds. Fortunately, it is not representative of the way the vast majority of our students and families conduct themselves.
Singleton was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center after being charged with the misdemeanors. A judge set a $7,500 bond for each charge.
Singleton is scheduled to appear in the courtroom of Judge Bernie Bouchard on Oct. 15 for a non-jury trial.