High school perverts: 10 Pennsylvania students charged in multiple cases of hazing and sexual assault of minors
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MIDDLETOWN, PENNSYLVANIA: After Middletown Area High School's football season was canceled in August following several videos showing hazing and sexual assault incidents, an investigation was launched. Almost a month later, 10 students have been charged in relation to this incident on Tuesday, September 20. It was determined that all the hazing and sexual assaults involved the same main perpetrators.
Middletown Area High School's football season was canceled in August and the players involved in this incident were identified and immediately laid off. According to the statement from Dauphin County District Attorney's Office, "Two students, both seventeen years of age, have been charged with multiple counts of criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, unlawful restraint, simple assault, and hazing. Police charged one student, age sixteen, with unlawful restraint, simple assault, and hazing, and three students, ages sixteen (2) and seventeen (1), with unlawful restraint and hazing. Police charged four students, ages sixteen (2) and seventeen (2), with violating the hazing statute." It was mentioned that all the cases will be handled through the juvenile system.
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The Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo claimed that at least three students were sexually assaulted in the turf room on August 11. The DA's office said the investigation "did not involve just hazing or 'boys will be boys' conduct. Rather, two of these individuals committed repeated sexual assaults and encouraged others to participate under the guise of hazing. If this was charged against an adult, they would be first-degree felonies punishable up to 2 to 20 years of imprisonment." They also explained that "Through the investigation, police learned that three other students were also assaulted over the last year during various incidents, with at least one incident occurring at a residence."
Charges pressed against MASH football team
The Middletown Area School District released an official statement post charges saying, "The Middletown Area School District and School Board want to again express our disappointment and concern for the actions of these students. The District, from the start, has cooperated fully with law enforcement throughout their investigation and will continue to do so." Other students who were also present during these crimes were charged with unlawful restraint, simple assault, hazing, and violating the hazing statute. There are almost six student-athletes between the ages of 14 to 17 who were a victim in the case.
Following this incident, the head coach also resigned in August. Previously talking about the incident, the superintendent wrote, "Cell phone video, taken by players, shows a group of students restraining two of their teammates and using a muscle therapy gun and another piece of athletic equipment to poke the buttock areas of the students who were on the ground. The video shows players fully clothed. It did not appear that any student’s body was physically penetrated. The video is difficult to watch as this is a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act."