Guilty findings vacated against 3 boys in Ocean View beating

NORFOLK

A judge on Wednesday vacated guilty findings against three teenage boys who were convicted of beating another teen while a video camera recorded the incident.

The three teens were part of a group of six boys charged after a videotape showed 13-year-old Damin O’Rourke being kicked and punched by several youths. The incident happened in Ocean View at Marlow and Orange avenues in September. Those charged have not been named because of their ages.

In December, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Judge William P. Williams sentenced five of the boys to five days in detention. He sentenced one boy who had been convicted of a second assault since October to serve 10 days. Williams said then that he would consider vacating the convictions in March if the boys remained on good behavior, attended school regularly and stayed away from the victim.

Convictions against two other boys were vacated last week. The conviction against one teen stood because he had not followed the court’s instructions.