MERRILL, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A jury found Javarius Hurd not guilty Tuesday of reckless homicide for the death Lincoln Hills School worker Corey Proulx, but convicted him of one misdemeanor count of battery by a prisoner.
Sentencing is set for Friday, court records show.
According to court documents, Hurd, now 18, was incarcerated at the Lincoln Hills-Copper Lakes School, the state’s youth prison in far northern Wisconsin, in June 2024.
He grew upset with a female counselor whom he felt was abusing her powers, threw soap at her and punched her. Hurd ran into the courtyard and Proulx followed to stop him. Hurd punched Proulx several times, chased Proulx, Proulx fell, hit his head on the pavement and later died. Hurd was 16 at the time but was charged in adult court.
Another inmate at the youth prison, Rian Nyblom, pleaded guilty to two counts of being a party to battery in connection with the incident and was sentenced to five years in prison this past August.
According to prosecutors, Nyblom knew that Hurd was upset with the female counselor and wanted to splash her with conditioner and punch her. About 15 minutes before the fighting began, he got extra soap and conditioner from guards and secretly gave it to Hurd. Nyblom told investigators that he didn’t see Hurd attack the female counselor but watched as Hurd punched Proulx.
