Tony Haynes was a gentle, overweight 14 year old boy who cherished his “Beanie Baby” collection. “Bear”, as he was nicknamed, struggled with ADHA and post-traumatic. In the spring of 2001, Tony, then 13, stole a small action figure from Osco in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. He was put on juvenile probation and ordered to enroll in a “tough love” boot camp program run by a tough, no non-sense ex-Marine named Charles Long II.

Ruth Silver, Chief of the Homicide Division of Maricopa County, insists that her niece, Jamie Eric, take the case for the prosecution. Jamie lost her own daughter three years ago and refuses to prosecute any case involving the death of a child. In fact, Jamie’s refusal to deal with her own loss resulted in a separation from her husband, Rob. Jamie wants nothing to do with this case but Ruth presses and, reluctantly, Jamie agrees. She charges Long with Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Child Abuse.

The trial begins and Jamie brings the kids that were in the boot camp with Tony to the stand and, through their words, and the resulting flashbacks, we learn how he died. Everyone in the courtroom is horrified as they learned how badly the kids were abused.

The morning Tony died, Long formed a “DOR” (drop out on request) line. Tony wanted to go home. He joined the line with more than 20 others. Long made most of them leave the line, shouting “your parents won’t take you home”. Long kept Tony and eight others in the direct sun for several hours. Tony begged for water, Long refused. Tony asked again. The punishment for Tony’s continued request was that everyone was made to remain in line even longer.

Drew Allen Kent, a 16 year old who stood in the DOR line next to Tony, testifies that Tony apologized to the other seven boys and promised to “get everyone out of there”. Drew states that Tony eventually began to hallucinate, eat dirt and then fell to the ground. Long ordered his next in command, Sergeant Troy Hutty, to take Tony, who had become non-responsive, to a nearby motel room to cool off. The other kids begged Long to call “9-1-1” but their pleas went unheeded. As Drew steppes off the witness stand, he raises his fist into the air and shouts “This is for my friend, Tony. He was our hero!”

Ramiro Garcia was one of the kids who helped carry Tony to the motel room. One of the camp employees left Tony alone in the bathtub and went to watch a boxing match on TV in the adjacent room. Later that night they phoned Long and told him that Tony wasn't breathing and needed immediate medical attention. Instead of instructing them to call “911”, Long ordered them to bring Tony back to the camp. At this point, Tony was nearly dead.

When they arrived back at camp, Long administered CPR on Tony and had some one call 911. When the paramedics arrived they learned that no one, including Long, knew the proper procedure for administering CPR. Dr. Keen, the county coroner, testifies that Tony would be alive today had there been professional “medical intervention when he became non-responsive”.

During the trial, Jo Ann Garcia, the public defender, repeatedly attacks Melanie, accusing her of being an unfit mother, insinuating that she was responsible for Tony’s death. At one point, Garcia dangles Tony’s eyeglasses in front of her, asking her to identify them. Melanie completely breaks down. She is forced to recall the day Long called and told her that her son had been eating dirt and was taken to the hospital. “I thought he had a stomach ache”, she said. No one from camp was there when the doctor told her that her son was dead. “I was shocked, numb...I just wanted my baby back”, she cried.

When the jury announces its verdict Long is wearing his Buffalo Soldier’s uniform, though he was ordered by the judge not to do so. When the judge reads the verdict, "guilty of Reckless Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault", Long lowers his head. His wife remained stoic. His daughter reaches her hands out for him, but he is immediately taken into custody. Justice has finally been served!

Written By Peter Liapis