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Detention center workers accused of organizing fight that left juvenile inmate injured

 
Published Feb. 10, 2015

FORT LAUDERDALE — A fight that left a juvenile at a West Palm Beach detention center with a possible broken eye socket and broken nose was organized by employees, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrest report.

Youth counselor David Croney, 40, of Pahokee was arrested Jan. 30 and youth care worker Vinny Valentino Jones Sr., 23, of Belle Glade was arrested Dec. 13. Both face child neglect charges and have since resigned.

The fight happened June 22 in a storage closet at the Palm Beach Juvenile Correctional Facility in West Palm Beach, run by a private company, Youth Service International.

An inmate later told investigators the employees knew he and the other inmate "had a beef with each other," and Croney and Jones Sr. organized the fight.

The second inmate involved in the fight said he was led to the storage room and was immediately attacked by the other juvenile as Jones Sr. looked on. One of the inmates said he was knocked to the ground as the other inmate stomped on his head and face.

Investigators said Jones Sr. broke up the fight, but one of the inmates broke free and began kicking the other inmate, who was trying to get up.