Alex Harris, 12, died of dehydration and head trauma after being forced to run as punishment at Hope Youth Ranch.

Eight current and former Hope Youth Ranch employees charged in connection with the death of a 12-year-old boy who collapsed during a disciplinary run will be offered probation in return for guilty pleas, Webster Parish prosecutors said Monday.

Monday was the first day of arraignments for the defendants, who are charged with negligent homicide. Those who had lawyers all pleaded not guilty; the others had public defenders appointed to represent them.

All eight are accused of unintentionally causing the death of 12-year-old Alex Harris of Haughton.

Harris collapsed and died last fall after he was forced to run as a form of punishment. Investigators said workers ignored the boy's pleas for help and denied him water.

Webster District Attorney Schuyler Marvin said plea offers call for the defendants to plead guilty in return for suspended prison sentences, two years probation and no fines. Any community service would be at the discretion of the sentencing judge, Marvin said.

Attorney Larry English, who is representing defendants Kelton Greenard and Arthur Henderson II, rejected the offer -- saying the boy's death is a civil matter, not a crime.

"I'm appalled my clients have been indicted in this case," English said outside court, "We're hoping the district attorney will come to his senses and drop the charges."

Prosecutors said that won't happen.

"That offer's subject to be withdrawn at any time," Assistant District Attorney Sherb Sentell said. "We're not saying they specifically intended to run the child to death. What we're saying is no reasonable person acting as a prudent person would have run someone like that and denied him water."

Also under indictment are Marcus Jones, Tasha Jackson, Jeremy Blanks, Troy Hamilton, Willis Doyle and Anthony Combs.