From [HERE] Six black teenagers accused of beating a white man because they were bored were indicted Thursday and could face a harsh penalty if convicted. A grand jury indicted the group of 13- and 14-year-old boys on one count each of felonious assault and aggravated rioting.

The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office is recommending to the court that the boys be designated as “serious youthful offenders,” meaning that if convicted, they could be subject to time in adult prison if they aren’t successful in the juvenile system. “It is a very serious case and we thought it was appropriate to seek this possible sanction,” said Julie Wilson, a spokeswoman with the prosecutor’s office.

The boys are charged with beating 45-year-old Pat Mahaney on Aug. 11 in the Cincinnati suburb of North College Hill. Witnesses stopped the beating and called police. The teens told police they attacked Mahaney unprovoked because they were bored and looking for something to do, said North College Hill Chief Gary Foust. Mahaney was hospitalized for four days.

The teens’ next court appearance is Tuesday, when a trial date is expected to be set. Two of the teens posted bond, while four of them remain in custody.

The beating shook the quiet, blue-collar suburb of North College Hill and led a white supremacist group to hold a rally along one of its main drags last week, calling the beating a hate crime; Mahaney is white and the teens are black.

Police say they have no reason to believe race was a motive in the attack (why did AP add this last little nugget)?.