Students Charged With Rape, Attempted Rape Charges As Police Investigate Hazing Allegations At Damascus High School
DAMASCUS, Md. (WJZ) — Montgomery County Police have charged five male students with rape after allegations of hazing by members of the junior varsity Damascus High School football team.
One juvenile has been charged with three counts of second-degree rape and one juvenile has been charged with one count of attempted second-degree rape.
WUSA9 reports the sexual assaults occurred after school was dismissed and involved three suspects and four male victims.
The hazing took place Wednesday in the men's locker room and involved a wooden broomstick, according to reports.
In a statement to The Washington Post, investigators said they are looking into several allegations of physical and sexual assaults of students at the school.
Damascus High School released a statement calling the allegations upsetting and unacceptable, and that any student caught hazing would be disciplined.
"I am writing to inform you of serious allegations involving our students and how they are being addressed. Today, my administration was informed of allegations of hazing by members of the junior varsity football team against their fellow team members. These allegations are being investigated by the Montgomery County Police Department. At this time, the allegations are unrelated to the varsity football team.
The alleged behavior is upsetting and unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Damascus HS. In response to these allegations, we have forfeited today's junior varsity football game. Any student who is found to have hazed another student will be disciplined in accordance with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct and may also face legal consequences.
Damascus High School is committed to the safety of all students. While this is an ongoing investigation, I cannot provide any additional information about this matter at this time,"
-Principal Casey Crouse, Damascus High School.
Principal Casey Crouse sent an email to parents on Thursday stating that, in response to the allegations, the junior varsity team forfeited their football game that same day.
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