Conversation Leads to Arrest
The day after senior pranks in Kendall County, Illinois, Jackson Leggett and his friends were laughing in English class about annual pranks at Newark Community High School. That year, pranks included toilet-papering the principal’s house and parking speed boats at the school. During the class, a rumor about possible vandalism surfaced. Leggett responded with a sarcastic comment, “What do you think I’m gonna do? Burn the school down?” According to Leggett’s lawsuit, this joke disrupted his senior year drastically.
Filed last month in federal court, the lawsuit names the school district, the superintendent, his teacher, Kendall County, and a sheriff’s deputy. It claims Leggett was wrongfully arrested and falsely charged with felony disorderly conduct. The then 17-year-old missed numerous senior milestones over what should have been addressed as a minor disciplinary issue.
Lawsuit Details
The now 19-year-old Leggett expressed fear and anxiety during the months following the incident. His reputation suffered in the small town, an hour and a half from Chicago. Leggett, who had no prior legal trouble, said, “Even in schools, students have First Amendment rights.” Julia Rickert, Leggett’s lawyer, emphasized that while schools can punish speech, turning it into a crime is crossing a line.
Tim Ulrich, superintendent of Newark Community High School District 18, called the claims meritless, asserting the district intends to defend itself strongly. The Kendall County sheriff’s office stated it conducts thorough investigations and bases charges and arrests on probable cause.
Senior Pranks in Focus
Senior pranks were a tradition at Newark Community High School, according to Leggett. In 2024, pranks involving toilet-papering and speed boats seemed typical to him. The lawsuit alleges Ulrich witnessed the pranks and permitted them as long as there was no permanent damage.
Another ritual called “senior assassin” has been in the news, with legal charges against students. Although Leggett faced no trouble for pranks, his jokes in class led to disciplinary actions. His teacher reported Leggett’s comments about burning the school, Ulrich’s house, and stealing his wife, acknowledging they were jokes. An assistant principal suspended Leggett for three days, but the principal allegedly wanted it escalated to a criminal matter, contacting a sheriff’s deputy.
Body camera footage revealed the teacher warned Leggett about possible consequences and reiterated joking around wasn’t wise. Despite the deputy’s perception of joking, Ulrich felt threatened, pushing the matter legally.
Impact and Aftermath
Leggett recalls shock over being arrested while mowing a lawn for a client. He was denied his request to move his equipment before arrest. Charged with felony disorderly conduct, he was detained for eight days at a juvenile facility and released after the charge was dropped seven months later. His detention remains a haunting memory due to confinement without sunlight.
Educationally, Leggett transitioned to online classes for the year, missing prom, graduation, and basketball. His exclusion from the yearbook added to his disappointment.
Facing judgment from others added to Leggett’s ordeal. Although friends supported him, he felt outsiders were talking behind his back. His landscaping business suffered due to the arrest.
Furthermore, Leggett loves hunting, deemed therapeutic for him. But without a firearm owner’s ID due to being flagged as a danger, he’s unable to hunt, affecting his Second Amendment rights.
Now a machine operator, Leggett hopes sharing his story publicly helps his community understand his situation. He seeks answers from the school and police, hoping for changed perceptions and better handling of such issues in future.
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