‘Expunged’ family recalls FHS fight scene; praise teachers, 1 admin
Brent and Monica Pelusio said they wanted some things “cleared up” almost two years after an incident that resulted in the couple, and their son, being arrested following a fight at Farragut High School.
While wanting their names cleared in a more widespread way after all charges were dismissed, the couple actually had some good things to say about FHS.
Since the fighting incident involving then junior Anthony Pelusio and fellow FHS students on Sept. 15, 2021, Brent and Monica fought charges of disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for more than 20 months before succeeding, saying they faced eight delays in having their case heard.
After Anthony and one of the youths he was fighting were arrested, the charges against the Pelusio couple’s son were dropped within 48 hours of the incident, they said.
Though saying Anthony’s records were examined after the incident by FHS officials, “They quickly found out that there was never any (prior) disciplinary actions and his grades were through the roof,” Brent said.
Meanwhile, about the couple’s charges, “Our case has been completely dismissed (May 25) … and expunged, because of our evidence and everything that we gave, all our information, to our attorney,” she said. “Nothing made sense because we were not there to provoke a fight whatsoever.”
“Now, mind you, we both went to jail,” Brent added.
Incident view: Pelusios
The couple said a Knox County Sheriff’s Office/Knox County School Security report and subsequent warrant had errors in stating the incident, which in their view led to one-sided media coverage.
“The community of Farragut did come up to us, people we’ve never met before, and was like, ‘what is the story? The story is very vague,’” Monica recalled.
Brent and Monica say the Sept. 15 fight was provoked by several “bullies,” which actually began with an incident the day before, after school and off campus, when Anthony and a friend were followed to West End Avenue shopping center before being confronted by the “bullies,” the Pelusios said.
Saying the “bullies” were shouting at Anthony and his friend as they were walking, “I ignored it,” Anthony, a 2023 FHS graduate, recently said, as the students followed them down to the shopping center.
When arriving near one of the West End stores, “Unprovoked, they just started punching and kicking me, and they also went after my friend,” the 18 year-old said.
Revising reports
However, just before the Sept. 15 on-campus fight started, “Brent Pelusio became involved,” according to the warrant, with Knox County School’s Student Resources Officer Sandra Rodgers stating he “was yelling for his son to fight” the other juvenile involved.
“Officer Rodgers ordered both parents to return to their vehicle three separate times, but they refused and continued to escalate the situation and encouraged their son to engage in a fight,” the warrants report further stated.
“Rodgers then used pepper spray on the juveniles, who were fighting.”
Incident effects remain
After the two-day incident, Anthony “didn’t go back to school for almost a month,” Brent said. “He was scared and he was very depressed.
“I’m still confused to this day. I think my son just doesn’t understand what happened,” Monica said.
Despite all criminal charges being dropped, the couple remain banned from even setting foot on any Knox County Schools property. Although Brent and Monica said they would not have been permitted to see Anthony graduate during the 2023 FHS commencement, he never took part in the ceremony.
Saying they have spoken to Susan Horn, Fifth District Knox County Board of Education representative, the couple also said they plan to approach the entire Board, looking to have the ban lifted, during an upcoming meeting.
Teachers, Killian
Praising most of the teachers Anthony had during his four years at FHS, Monica labels them as “phenomenal, amazing,” adding that Anthony insisted on not transferring to another school because of his teachers. She referenced one teacher as being “wonderful; she loved Anthony. … I’m just very grateful that everyone there, especially the teachers, were so accommodating.”
About another FHS teacher, “she’s a phenomenal teacher and has become a very close friend of Anthony’s even after he’s graduated,” Monica said.
Though the family expressed displeasure by the way the incident was handled by principal Dr. John Bartlett and Rodgers, assistant principal Steve Killian “would check up on him, like (saying), ‘hey, are you OK?’ Monica added. “That went a long way for Anthony. He felt better.
“And I feel like Mr. Killian’s done a heck of a job. ... because he knows he’s a good kid.”
And he’s always said, ‘Listen, if you need anything, you come to my office.’ And he did a lot. He actually went above and beyond.”
Not looking to blame
“We’re not looking to blame people, we just want for our son to feel like someone out there did something good and actually will write what he went through and how he felt and how this was all misconstrued, I guess you could say,” Monica said.
