Christina Rogers speaks out on charges

APPLETON - We have new details in the alleged fight involving teenagers and two adult sisters in Appleton. One of the sisters, Christina Rogers told FOX 11 she was just trying to defend her daughter.

Christina Rogers says her 14-year-old daughter told her early last week she was having trouble with some of her classmates at Wilson Middle School.

"Apparently these children have been harassing my daughter for awhile, she has been very withdrawn. I couldn't understand why, but until that evening I had no idea it was to this extent," said Rogers.

According to Rogers the harassment turned violent. So Rogers and her sister Jennifer started picking her daughter up after school. Rogers said she wanted to make sure all the children got home safe, even those her daughter accused of bullying.

But on Thursday, when Rogers and her sister got to the corner of Story and Franklin Streets, things changed.

"I couldn't see my child at that moment. I just saw a mob of kids," said Rogers.

Rogers told us she saw one teenage girl attack her daughter, that's when she says she got involved.

"I can say that I fought for my child, to protect my child, exactly what I did? It was almost a blur, there was so much going on," said Rogers.

According to the criminal complaint, the other teenage girl said Rogers' daughter started the fight by spraying her with pepper spray. That girl said both Christina Rogers and Jennifer Rogers attacked her, punching and kicking her and another teenager.

Rogers said she and her sister were just trying to get her daughter out of harm's way and ended up getting hit in the process. Rogers told us she used pepper spray to try to stop the fight.

"I am sincerely sorry that anybody was hurt, including my child," said Rogers.

Now Christina and Jennifer Rogers are both facing counts of child abuse and disorderly conduct. She said she hopes her case highlights the issue of violence in schools. Rogers said she hopes anyone who's experienced it speaks out.

"We need to be heard. We need to stand up for these kids that are being bullied, that are fearing going to school," said Rogers.

The Rogers sisters are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday.

The parents of the other teenagers involved in the alleged fight have not yet returned our messages. Also, the assistant schools superintendent said the district could not comment.