Surviving Indian Creek School » Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

CreekFest 2025 – End Game

What Is CreekFest?

CreekFest is Indian Creek School’s annual fall festival and homecoming celebration—a colorful, high-energy event featuring carnival rides, games, food trucks, pep rallies, and fireworks. Held each October, it’s billed as a joyful showcase of school spirit and community pride. But this year, as CreekFest 2025 lights up the sky, a darker truth looms beneath the glitter.

A Legal Earthquake

Over the past year, Indian Creek School has been rocked by a series of legal and reputational blows. A judge who repeatedly ruled in the school’s favor was removed from the bench for misconduct. Their lead defense counsel—once a partner at Liff Walsh—was publicly humiliated, quietly exited the firm, and now holds a diminished role at Fisher Phillips.

But the real secret they tried to bury? It wasn’t just procedural misconduct or legal missteps.

It was me.

The Secret They Weaponized

I, Eric Hemphill, worked at Indian Creek School for nearly a decade. I was fingerprinted during the hiring process. My background was known. The previous administration reviewed my record and signed off on my employment. I was transparent from day one.

And in that time, I built something remarkable. I elevated the food service program. I launched the breakfast initiative. I opened the concessions and c-store. I helped CreekFest grow into the signature event it is today. Prospective families would tour the school and say, “We heard about your food—that’s one reason we came.”

But when it became politically convenient, ICS used my past to erase me—and my family.

The Conviction They Exploited

In the early 1990s, I accepted an Alford plea for a Class D non-violent reckless homicide—a manslaughter conviction. I maintained my innocence, but acknowledged the legal risks of trial.

“I was sitting on a bench talking with neighbors. A van pulled up. A man jumped out, yelling and threatening people. He was high and intoxicated. I separated myself, but he followed me. He got in my face. I hit him with a right cross. He fell, hit his head. I rendered first aid, waited for the ambulance, and left.”

The man was known to police for PCP, cocaine, and alcohol abuse. He had previously been the defendant in a drunk driving case involving a young girl.

Redemption, Not Concealment

During my incarceration, I became a fixture in the law library—working on my own case and helping others secure release. I taught GED classes to inmates labeled “unteachable,” and my graduation rate surpassed that of conventional educators.

Since my release over 20 years ago, I’ve earned a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies, and an MBA. As a chef in Maryland from 2005–2012, I cooked for the Ravens, Orioles, Under Armor, Governor Ehrlich, Governor O’Malley and retired judge O'Malley, judges, commissioners, and members of Congress.

At ICS, I wasn’t just a food service manager—I was a builder of culture, a mentor, and a symbol of second chances.

The Fallout

When Indian Creek decided to cut ties with SAGE Dining Services, they didn’t just terminate me—they pushed out my entire family. They didn’t even want my son enrolled. They used my past not out of concern for safety, but as a tool of erasure. A way to silence a voice that had become inconvenient. A voice that had elevated their institution while carrying the weight of redemption.

The End Game

CreekFest 2025 may be a celebration for some—but for me, it marks the end of silence. The truth is out. The record is clear. And justice, long delayed, is finally being demanded.

Who will show up to Creekfest: ANTIFA, Black Lives Matters, MAGA, The Hemphills, Reporters, Undercovers, .....?