1 of 2 assault charges dropped against second teen after fatal attack in Lincoln Hills

MERRILL, Wis. (WSAW) – A judge has dropped assault charges in the case of a second student involved in the fatal attack in Lincoln Hills.

On Monday, the court filed an amended criminal complaint that omitted a second assault charge against Rian Nyblom.

Nyblom is accused of throwing a cup of soap in the face of a youth worker. Nyblom is accused of murder and assault, both charges being presumptive.

Last month, Nyblom’s attorney, Joseph Bauer, filed a motion to dismiss two of the three charges against Nyblom. Those charges relate to the attack and death of 49-year-old youth counselor Corey Proulx. The court ruled Monday that the indictment provided a factual basis for the murder charge, but the assault charge related to Proulx was dropped.

According to the criminal complaint, dispatch received a call from staff around 8 p.m. on Monday, June 24. A preliminary investigation revealed that another teen, Javarius Hurd, likely threw a cup of soap in a youth worker’s face. He is then accused of attacking the 25-year-old woman by punching her in the torso and face. The student then ran outside. A second youth worker, Cory Proulx, followed him into the outside courtyard to arrest him. Investigators said that’s when the student punched Proulx in the face and torso. Investigators said that Proulx eventually went limp and fell to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement. Proulx was airlifted from the scene. He died the next day.

The other youth worker was released from hospital due to her injuries.

Hurd’s criminal complaint said Hurd believed the youth counselor was treating him unfairly. He said he planned to attack her and got another student to get a cup of soap.

In Nyblom’s criminal complaint, investigators said Nyblom told them Hurd had filed a complaint against the youth counselor and was upset with the outcome of that complaint. The complaint goes on to say that Nyblom and Hurd planned an attack on the youth counselor. Hurd asked Nyblom for a cup of soap. Nyblom asked for and received a cup of conditioner from the youth counselor about a half hour before the attack. According to the complaint, this attack plan involving the conditioner was the second version of the plan.

Nyblom is expected to find out on September 17 whether there is enough evidence to take his case to trial.

Hurd is charged with first-degree manslaughter and two counts of assault by a prisoner.

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