T-L Photos/JOSIE BURKHART Belmont County Juvenile Court presents a mock trial to Bellaire Middle School students Thursday afternoon.

BELLAIRE — Bellaire Middle School students sat in on a mock trial, seeing what the courtroom would be like in the real world Thursday afternoon.

The Belmont County Juvenile Court visited Bellaire Middle School to present a plea hearing where a child comes before the court that has been charged with a delinquency offense, and they are advised of their rights, advised of the charge, of the orders that the court could issue if they are adjudicated a delinquent child, which is similar to being found guilty if someone is an adult and then proceed to issue orders.

If someone is an adult, the court would sentence the person but in the juvenile court, it is called a disposition of orders.

Juvenile Court Judge Al Davies said the plea hearing is a typical situation that occurs in juvenile court, so it’s the most relevant to present to students about what goes on in a courtroom.

The court used an actual case that had been presented in court as the example. The student involved in that case, Vanessa Zelkowski, played the role of the juvenile defendant, named “Mary Galloway” for Thursday’s mock trial. Davies presented the case.

In the case, Galloway and another female student got into a heated argument at lunchtime where the school resource officer stepped in and stopped the girls from arguing. After the lunch period ended, the girls returned to their classrooms and completed the school day without further incidents. However, after school, Galloway allegedly went to the other girl’s house and when she answered the door, Galloway assaulted her. The police were then called to the scene. The police took Galloway into custody, and transported her to the Sargus detention center.

Davies continued saying whenever a child is placed in the Sargus detention center, the court must hold an ongoing detention hearing within 24 hours, so the court held the detention hearing, and at the conclusion, found that Galloway still posed a threat to the safety of others and was ordered to remain in the Sargus detention center. The court then scheduled further proceedings.

The State of Ohio filed a complaint, and it alleged that Galloway had committed the criminal offense of assault.

Bellaire students got to see Galloway attend the mock trial with her mother and watch her “appear before the court,” and learn.

Davies is hoping that in addition to providing information about how the juvenile court works, the court inspired children and let them see how a career in law can be a part of their future.

Davies emphasized he wanted to explain to the students the court does not shy away from consequences.

“Our goal is to make certain that they’re not back before the court again,” he said. “So we want to rehabilitate and we want to expose them to these incredible services that we have in the juvenile court to help them along the way.”

Davies said the court will be back at it next year at the schools in the western part of the county to keep exposing students to mock trials and thanked his staff for its phenomenal job organizing the mock trial.

The court also invited Belmont County Coroner Amanda Fisher and chief investigator Tim Skinner to present about drug overdoses and, more specifically, fentanyl.

Fisher said she sees children experiment with substances at a younger and younger age–even as early as middle school–which is why this education is so critical.

“Our goal is to give them the facts in a straightforward, age-appropriate way,” she said, “so they understand how deadly fentanyl is and where it’s showing up.”

Fentanyl is not only in streets anymore but being found in pills that look like common prescription medications, such as Xanax and Percocet, according to Fisher, and she wants children to know just one fake pill can be fatal.

Fisher is hoping this presentation will help even just one student from picking up any type of drug, and remember the speakers’ words that it could be a life or death decision.

“We hope these presentations will empower them to make safe choices and understand that one decision can truly mean the difference between life and death,” Fisher said.

At the end of the mock trial, drug overdose presentation and student’s questions, Davies and his staff congratulated Zelkowski, as she finished probation and is now graduated from the program. Davies described her as an exemplary student, and a student role model.