Former Chicago Bears player Desmond Clark speaks with his son, Kiwanne, at his side Dec. 16, 2015, outside Vernon Hills High School. (Joe Shuman / Chicago Tribune)
Former Chicago Bears tight end Desmond Clark on Wednesday questioned Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim's motives in pursuing misdemeanor charges against him and his wife, Maria, related to an August incident at Vernon Hills High School, where their son is a senior.
"I think there is an agenda somewhere against my family," Clark said at a news conference outside the high school. "I don't know what it is, but it is one."
The Clarks were arrested Aug. 29 after a dispute with officials at Vernon Hills High School. Both were charged with disorderly conduct, and Maria Clark also was charged with assault.
The Clarks turned themselves in to police after learning they had been charged following an argument with an administrator. In October, the couple rejected a plea deal to resolve the charges. The Clarks have been free on $25,000 bond since the incident and their next court date is scheduled for Jan. 11.
Nerheim declined to comment on the facts of the incident, citing the pending case.
"I certainly respect Mr. Clark's right to voice his opinion, but these charges were filed in response to a complaint from a citizen, and the case was investigated, the incident is on video and there's numerous witnesses to it and that will all come out in trial," he said. Nerheim is seeking another term as state's attorney in the 2016 election.
Desmond Clark has said he believes racism contributed to the conflict, which began after his son, Kiwanne, was not allowed to participate in a school event because of a disciplinary issue.
A school employee called his son a "criminal" and told him to get out of the assembly, Clark said, who added that he and his wife were trying to protect their son.
"First they call him a criminal, then they try to make us criminals," Clark said at the news conference, standing next to his son.
Other community activists and pastors at the news conference questioned why the incident wasn't handled in the school, without involving the courts.
"There was no threat of physical harm," activist Tio Hardiman said. "It was a parent standing up for their child."
Jordan Nabat, a senior and friend of Clark's son, said he thought the charges were "unnecessary" and "out of proportion," particularly given volunteer work Clark has done with the school.
"It just doesn't make sense to me," he said.
A statement announcing the news conference from Clark's publicist, Katherine Rush, said the school has since removed any restrictions on the parents' involvement in the school.
Community High School District 128 spokeswoman Mary Todoric said the Clarks are allowed to attend events at the school related to their son but must notify the principal in advance. She declined to comment further on the incident.
Clark said it wasn't the first time his son had suffered "racial bullying," but they had always handled it quietly with school officials. He also questioned why there had been no consequences for the school official who called his son a criminal.
"The school needs to change its culture rather than criminalize parents for being parents," he said, calling the continued case "a total miscarriage of justice."
http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...chicago-bears-charges-met-20151216-story.html
