KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — One of the three people charged in the death of a teen boy at a youth home in Kalamazoo has now been formally charged.
Around 10 a.m. Tuesday, 28-year-old Zachary Solis of Lansing turned himself into the Kalamazoo County Jail and was arraigned in Kalamazoo County District Court that afternoon on charges of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of second-degree child abuse.
Solis was charged for his part in the restraint and eventual death of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredricks at Lakeside Academy.
On April 29th Fredricks reportedly threw food in the cafeteria of the facility, located off of Oakland Drive, and was restrained for about 12 minutes by several staff members. Two days later, Fredricks died of cardiac arrest and the Kalamazoo County Medical Examiner’s office ruled the cause of his death was a homicide.
Solis was one of the two Lakeside staff members who laid on top of Fredricks’ abdomen during the restraint. During his arraignment, Solis’s attorney called it an accidental death at best and said that Solis has been cooperative during this investigation.
Solis was arraigned and released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for July 21st 8:30 a.m. before Judge Anne E. Blatchford.
Officials with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office say that information on the co-defendants, 47-year-old Michael Mosley and 48-year-old Heather McLogan, will be released at another time.
Involuntary manslaughter is a felony offense that can result in up to 15 years in prison while second-degree child abuse can result in 10 years in prison.
The state has already suspended Lakeside’s license and the family of Fredericks has also filed a lawsuit for $100 million dollars against the facility and their managing company.
