The other shoe dropped Friday night in the Sayreville War Memorial High School football hazing scandal.
Seven players were charged — and six taken into custody — in connection with a series of alleged locker room sexual assaults of four victims, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office announced in a press release. The seven players are minors under the age of 18, ranging from 15 to 17, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The charges and arrests were first reported by NJ.com.
The news — on the night Sayreville was supposed to host Monroe Township High School — came less than a week after the varsity, junior varsity and freshman football teams’ seasons were cancelled by District Superintendent Richard Labbe amid molestation allegations of what was initially described as “serious bullying and harassment” of younger members of the program.
The prosecutor’s office said the six taken into custody are being held by law enforcement until a Family Court decision on whether to return them to their parents or guardians or hold them at a detention center is determined. The seventh accused member of the team was “being sought at the time,” according to the prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutor Andrew Carey said in the release three students were charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing for engaging in an act of sexual penetration upon one of the juvenile victims. One of the accused and four others were charged with counts such as aggravated assault, conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by taking part in the alleged attacks.
The complaints filed claimed one or more of the players held victims against their will. Others allegedly improperly touched victims in a sexual manner. One of the victims was kicked during an attack in another instance, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Carey said the events took place in four separate incidents, between Sept. 19 and Sept. 29.
NJ.com reported seeing police arrive at the home of team captain Myles Hartsfield, a senior running back and free safety who is committed to Penn State. It is unknown if he was one of the seven players charged. The report also said police officers arrived at the home of Dylan Thillet, another senior team captain, but nobody answered the door.
On Wednesday, NJ.com reported the nature of the alleged attacks, according to a parent. The parent said it would begin with a howling wolf call from a senior and the lights would be shut off. A freshman would then be pinned against the locker-room floor, his arms and feet held by upperclassmen, lifted in the air while a finger was forced into his rectum and later, on some occasions, his mouth.
The powerhouse public school program is coached by George Najjar, who coached Lincoln High in Coney Island from 1983-95. He has yet to comment on the ugly allegations.