BRUNSWICK | Glynn County's chief magistrate set bail Friday for one of four teenage defendants facing a felony cruelty to children charge in a knock-out game assault early Sunday but refused to set bail for another.

Judge Timothy Barton set a $2,500 bail for Jervon Abdullah Sanderson, 18, but ordered that he have no contact with the 16-year-old victim or his family, who police said was hit in the face without warning at the Walmart in Brunswick.

Assistant District Attorney Liberty Stewart asked the court to set a higher bail of $3,500 for Kaleb Scott Dirting, 18.

Stewart told Barton she wanted the higher bail because Dirting "is actually the one who bet the puncher. ..."

"He said, 'I bet you won't punch a random person,' " Stewart said.

She told Barton that Dirting has since cooperated with police investigating the incident.

Dirting's lawyer, Robert Crowe, said his client didn't believe Brandon Mikell Allen Jr., 18, would take him up on the bet.

"It was in a joking manner," Crowe said.

Dirting is a high school senior with a job and had never been in jail before, Crowe told Barton, and he called the arrest a wake-up call for Dirting.

"That gentleman that was slugged, ..." Barton said, "it was a wake-up call for him."

Barton called the incident disturbing.

"People can't go to the store without people betting someone to come up and hit them in the face? I'm not going to set bond on this," Barton said.

Dirting's next opportunity to have a bail set will come next week, likely along with Allen and the fourth defendant, Ramone Rishaun Roberson, 19.

During the two bail hearings, some of the details of the crime were aired.

The four teenagers approached the victim, one punched him, they all laughed and ran away. It was all caught on the surveillance cameras at the Walmart, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said Thursday.

Sanderson's lawyer, Keith Higgins, argued that he had no physical contact with the victim and that he shouldn't even be charged with a crime especially felony cruelty to children in the first degree.

Higgins said the charge sets a bad precedence that could be applied to high school fights.

If an 18-year-old student hits a younger student the police could charge him with a felony under the reasoning being used in this case, Higgins said.

But Barton said the evidence showed that all four walked up together, one struck the victim and the four defendants all ran off together.

"That's a little different from getting in a fist fight at a high school," Barton said.

Barton said he likely would not have set bail for Sanderson's release had not the victim's father asked for it.

He also told Sanderson he could reduce some of the conditions of his release if his behavior warrants, but warned he could also be jailed again if he violated the terms.

Terry Dickson: (912) 264-0405