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Ohio teen sentenced to 90 days for video recorded attack on gay classmate

Zach Huston, (Right) & his mother Rebecca Collins

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO -- Ross County Chief Juvenile Court Judge Richard Ward handed down a 90 day sentence Wednesday to 15-year-old Levi Sever, who had previously pleaded guilty to a single count of delinquency assault.

Sever was video recorded by cell phone last October beating an openly gay 15 year old student at his high school that garnered national attention when the video went viral on both Facebook and YouTube.

Zach Huston, 15, was assaulted by Sever in a classroom at Unioto High School, with both Huston and his mother, Rebecca Collins maintaining that Zach he was targeted because he is openly gay, Collins labeling the assault a 'hate crime.'

In addition to serving his 90 day sentence in the local juvenile detention center Sever was also ordered to undergo mental health counseling and continue his education during his detention, said Ross County Prosecutor Matthew Schmidt. Sever has not been attending classes at the high school since the assault first came to light and Zach's mother launched a formal protest, however, the school's administration has declined to reveal what disciplinary actions were taken against Sever.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that Huston and his mother, Rebecca Collins, have repeatedly alleged that school officials have not responded appropriately to their reports about bullying due to his sexual orientation.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio who is representing Huston and his mother have threatened to take legal action against the Ross County school district in Federal Court unless it immediately implements changes to protect students, especially LGBTQ pupils such as Huston from bullying.

Late Thursday, a spokesperson for the ACLU in Columbus told LGBTQNation that Union-Scioto School District administrators have as of yet to address the ACLU’s request, which included amending the district’s anti-bullying policy to specifically prohibit the harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.