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Mastery Charter School students charged in beating appear in court

Three Mastery Charter School students charged in the afternoon beating of a man near Independence Hall last month had initial court appearances Thursday.

Three Mastery Charter School students charged in the afternoon beating of a man near Independence Hall last month had initial court appearances Thursday.

The three students face assault charges in the beating of a 36-year-old man who was walking along Fourth Street near Walnut Street on the afternoon of July 29, just hours before other teenagers randomly attacked victims in Center City.

The students broke the man's jaw in two places, forcing him to spend two days in a hospital, said prosecutor Leslie Gomez. His jaw is still wired, she added.

The students had been hanging around after summer school.

Mastery officials obtained security footage in the days after the attack, then identified and obtained statements from the students, who then turned themselves in to police with their families.

"This is serious," Common Pleas Court Judge Kevin Dougherty told the teenagers. "Despite your prior education, you may be looking at State Road rather than State College."

The youths' court date was set for Sept. 6. All remain in custody.