2 girls charged with assaulting school guard

Two teenage girls involved in a scuffle with a security guard at Palmdale’s Knight High School in September were charged Tuesday with misdemeanor counts of assaulting a school employee.

The white security guard, accused by some community members of using excessive force against the black students, will not be charged, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

“There’s been no evidence presented to us that there’s been any wrongdoing on his part,” said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley.

Carl Douglas, the lawyer for the students, called the charges “a disturbing pack of lies.”

The Sept. 18 incident began when Pleajhai Mervin, 16, dropped pieces of birthday cake in the school’s lunch area and allegedly failed to clean it up to security guard Chris Niemeyer’s satisfaction.

An altercation resulted, which was videotaped by 14-year-old Joshua Lockett.

Another scuffle ensued when Lockett allegedly ignored Niemeyer’s orders to hand over the camera. Lockett’s 16-year-old sister, Kenngela, jumped in on his behalf.

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Mervin with one count of assault and one count of battery against a public school employee, both misdemeanors. Kenngela Lockett also was charged with one count of battery against Niemeyer.

Prosecutors earlier charged Joshua Lockett with two felonies stemming from the incidents, including one count of threatening a public officer, as well as one misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace.

All three students have pleaded not guilty. Their next court date is Jan. 7.

“I am hopeful that when reflective people in positions of authority have the opportunity to learn more of the facts that occurred, that cooler heads will prevail and that charges against these three people will be summarily dismissed,” Douglas said.

“They have [Mervin] attacking a security guard, which never occurred. They have Joshua Lockett sticking a camera in the security guard’s face, which did not occur.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators said last month that Niemeyer, who was placed on paid administrative leave after the incident, had acted appropriately and used acceptable restraint during the scuffle.

A woman who answered the phone at Niemeyer’s home Tuesday said he would not comment.

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