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Court: Butler County officials did not violate a 10-year-old's rights

A federal lawsuit alleging a special needs student's constitutional rights were violated by Butler County court officials has been dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissom ruled Tuesday county officials did not violate a 10-year-old's rights or the American Disabilities Act when he was detained for several days in 2013.

The lawsuit, which was filed in March 2015, named the county, President Judge Thomas Doerr, juvenile probation officer Amy Swigart, juvenile court master Eric Levin, juvenile court services supervisor William Rumbaugh and Assistant District Attorney Russell Karl.

The lawsuit alleged the detention violated the boy's 14th Amendment rights and the American Disabilities Act.

The boy's parents have the right to appeal the decision.

According to the lawsuit, he has a mood disorder, anxiety disorder and attention deficit disorder.

The boy was charged in December 2012 with two incidents in the Karns City School District, which resulted in six months of juvenile probation.

He was placed in an emotional support classroom in the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District, where other issues arose.

During a March 14 hearing, Levin ruled the boy would stay at the Keystone Education and Detention Center for at least five days. R.S. was released following a March 18 hearing.

According to the lawsuit, the boy continued to suffer from the detention, experiencing further meltdowns at school due to fear of being detained again.

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