The Huntington (Tex.) Independent School District is looking into reports of possible hazing and sexual assault, relating to the high school baseball team.
According to The Lufkin Daily News, a student came forward in late January with allegations that high school baseball players had abused him as part of a team initiation.
“The case is being investigated by the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement,” said superintendent David Flowers. “The school will handle any discipline warranted on our side, and law enforcement is working on the criminal side.”
As a result of the investigation, all implicated members of the baseball team have been removed from campus and all baseball activities have been suspended. Law enforcement was contacted after school administrators were able to substantiate the claims made against the baseball team.
One parent said that she had reported to principal Shane Stover as early as October of 2018 about incidents of hazing conveyed by her son and other students at HISD.
“They told me that there was hazing and bullying and things like that going on in the locker room, predominantly in the baseball department,” she said. “They didn’t like the way things were being run by the new baseball coach. The word they were using is that they feared the new baseball coach.”
From AB: Avoid the Legal Haze of Hazing
The parent told The Lufkin Daily News that the principal was dismissive of her at the time.
“We went on with further conversation, and as we were getting ready to end the conversation, he stopped me and he said to me, ‘What is this you said to me about hazing? I don’t like that word hazing at all. Don’t worry, you just let me handle my athletic department.’ And that was it.”
No arrests have been made in the investigation at this time.
