A Fort Defiance High School case of bullying has become a felony.

The mother of a high school bullying victim, Janese Manning, says, "While my son was unconscious, I saw this boy straddle him and beat him, I don't know how many times. I couldn't even count them."

More than a dozen stitches and a broken nose and eye socket were what Fort Defiance junior Adam Casey suffered after an alleged bully crossed the line.

Casey says Jamar Coleman, a fellow Fort Defiance student, has been threatening him for years.

Casey says, "He's been sending me threats, sending people to talk to me. Telling me that he's going to beat me up."

On Wednesday afternoon, things appear to have gone too far.

Casey says that he was warned that Coleman wanted to fight him. That's when he turned around. He was pushed three times until he was shoved to the floor and knocked unconscious.

Casey says, "It's not a good thing what happened to me, but the outcome of it is going to make me a whole lot more of a stronger person and pull all of my friends together."

To dispel other rumors, Casey made it clear that the fight broke out because of past differences.

He also hopes that action will be taken to prevent cases of bullying from happening again.

"I really would hate for someone else to go through what I'm going through. I mean it, mentally and physically. It's driving me nuts," says Casey.

Manning says, "Take the bullies if they are bullying, give them three strikes. If they mess up three times, then they're out of there. Why should my son have to fear going to school because he's scared someone might bully him."

Several attempts to reach Coleman were unsuccessful.

Augusta County Superintendent Dr. Gary McQuain says Coleman has been expelled from school and will go in front of the discipline committee at a later date.

He says the school board has a firm stance against bullying and to protect its students at all times.

Augusta County deputies say they normally let schools handle bullying cases, but because this beating is considered a felony offense, they had to get involved.

Coleman was arrested Wednesday and has since been released on a $2,500 bond.