Fallston Firefighters Sentenced In Assault Of Cadet

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Three people involved in the assault of a cadet at the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company have been sentenced, according to the Harford County State's Attorney. None of those involved received any jail time.

All will complete community service hours, the state's attorney reported, among other stipulations.

Andrew Burkins, 21, of the 900 block of Winters Court in Bel Air, and John Hefner, 20, of the 2400 block of Burham Drive in Fallston, were convicted of second-degree assault. Burkins was a lieutenant at the fire company, and Hefner was a sergeant, according to officials.

Prosecutors said that Burkins and Hefner, as well as Colby Ogrysko, were "horse-playing" with the victim, who was a member of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company's Cadet program, over the summer. Court filings show the assault charges stemmed from an incident on June 1, 2017.

The cadet was staying overnight at the firehouse to help with calls when, while they were "horse-playing" in the bunk room, Hefner said something regarding the victim's thinness and asked whether he was a victim of the Holocaust, according to a statement from prosecutors.

Then Hefner and Burkins threw the victim down onto a lower bunk and held him there against his will for approximately 30 seconds despite his repeated orders for them to release him, the statement said.

Burkins and Hefner each entered an Alford plea, meaning they admitted there was enough evidence to convict them but maintained their innocence, in Harford County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Harford County Circuit Court Judge Maurice Baldwin Jr. found Burkins and Hefner guilty of one count of second-degree assault and granted them probation before judgment, according to the state's attorney.

They will be on supervised probation for one year; must have no contact with the victim or his family; complete 16 hours of community service; and complete the Harford County Health Department's "Errors in Thinking" program, the state's attorney reported.

Ogrysko, 19, of the 1900 block of Pleasantville Road in Forest Hill, was sentenced to 16 hours of community service.

The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company suspended the three members in December when charges were brought against them. The chief of the all-volunteer organization had brought the case to the attention of the Harford County Sheriff's Office immediately upon learning of the potential criminal conduct, and the investigation ensued.

SEE ALSO: Fallston Firefighters To Be Charged In Rape Case

This is breaking news and will be updated.