Text size:

Pa. teen charged in death of Mexican immigrant loses bid to be sent to private school

By Associated Press

7:15 PM EDT, October 9, 2008

POTTSVILLE, Pa. (AP) _ A Pennsylvania teen charged with killing a Mexican man has lost a bid to be sent to private school on the taxpayers' dime.

Brandon Piekarsky is charged with third-degree murder in the July beating death of 24-year-old Luis Ramirez.

Piekarsky's school agreed to provide home instruction and a computer with Internet access while he awaits trial. But the teen says he has been getting only a few hours a week of tutoring and says his computer came late and without Internet access.

Piekarsky asked a judge this week to force the Shenandoah Valley district to pay for a private school. The judge has declined the request but ordered the district to live up to the deal.

Three other teens face charges in connection with the death.