Teen Charged in Paulding Fight Speaks

A South Paulding High School teen who police said was caught on video beating up his classmate wanted to give his side of the story Tuesday night.

Fifteen-year-old Dalton Hicks was charged with battery following a fight at his school. Hicks and his mother contend that while Hicks may have thrown the first punch at his classmate, it was provoked.

"He poked me in the chest and when he did that, I hit him. I hit him five or six times. I did not grab a hold of him, I did not slam him against the wall," said Hicks.

Fifteen-year-old Austin Harrelson ended up with a facial fracture as a result of the fight. Hicks was arrested and charged with battery.

"With or without cell phones, I probably would have hit him because I was just defending myself," said Hicks.

Hicks' mother said she was upset that the school only punished her son.

"I understand there is a zero tolerance which I understand. When Austin put his finger in Dalton's chest, provoking him, both of them would get the same punishment," said Hicks' mother, Diana.

Both boys' parents agree the school should have done more. The parents said the fight between the two boys should never have escalated as far as it did.

After he was arrested, Hicks posted a message on his MySpace page saying, "I got in another fight today. Don't ask. I won."

"I did say that. At first I was bragging about it because he started it," said Dalton Hicks.

Hicks has since posted a new message saying that he regretted the fight.

"If I had the chance to go back, I wouldn't have touched him," said Hicks.

Calls to the Paulding County school system have not been returned.