Crime & Safety

Man Arrested At DHS Graduation To Enter Diversion Program

Decatur police had charged William Castle with obstruction of an officer and simple battery.

A man will enter rather than stand trial .

William Castle, 52, of Shadowmoor Drive must complete eight hours of community service, take a day-long anger management class, pay a $300 program fee and write an apology letter to a school resource officer, said DeKalb Solicitor's office spokesman Emily Gest.


"If the defendant completes those requisites the case will be dismissed and the arrest expunged," Gest said in an email.

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Castle's lawyer, J. Tom Morgan, said Tuesday night he was certain of victory in a trial, but his client accepted the diversion offer to clear his record of the arrest.

"The solicitor's office said, 'Even if you beat us, we won't let you expunge the record,' " said Morgan, the former DeKalb district attorney

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Castle attended the Decatur High graduation on May 26, 2011. because of bad weather. Morgan said his client had to go outside to take a cell phone call.

Decatur police said they were stopping people from going into the gym when Castle entered from the lobby, ignored an officer's order to stop and pushed by her. Other officers got involved, took Castle to the floor and handcuffed him.

Castle's previous lawyer, John Petrey, said last year that Castle walked through an open door and was tackled from behind by an officer.

Castle was charged with two counts of obstruction of a law enforcement officer and one count of simple battery -- all misdemeanors.

He missed the graduation and spent the night in the DeKalb County Jail.


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