Guilty Verdict For Assault Outside Rochester Elementary School

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man has been found guilty of felony assault for attacking a teenage boy at a local elementary school last year.

According to the criminal complaint filed against 35-year-old Justin Dee White, Rochester police officers responded to Riverside Elementary School on the evening of February 19, 2024, and found a 17-year-old boy unresponsive on the sidewalk. The court document describes the teenager as "breathing, shivering, and his eyes were fluttering, but was not speaking."

As he was being transported to the emergency department at St. Marys Hospital, the criminal complaint indicated he became more responsive but was still not speaking.

The charges against White stated that a detective reviewed video recorded by security cameras at the school that showed the victim approach a group of juveniles and talk with them. The video recordings also show White approach and begin talking with the victim just before a scuffle broke out among the juveniles.

The criminal complaint alleged that White took action to prevent the victim from breaking up the fight and was then seen in the video punching the 17-year-old, who had his back to him, on the right side of his head. White then walked away from the scene.

When a detective spoke with the victim the following day, he stated that his younger brother was being assaulted and he was attempting to intervene when he was attacked.

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White was charged with felony third-degree assault resulting in substantial bodily harm. His case went to trial this week, and late Thursday afternoon the jury found him guilty of the charge.

He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

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