Lawrence County District Attorney releases results Mohawk hazing investigation
NEW CASTLE, Pa. - Lawrence County District Attorney Josh Lamancusa has released the results of the investigation of hazing allegations at Mohawk High School.
Lamancusa says detectives interviewed 20 members of the Mohawk Varsity football team, three coaches, and numerous school officials.
Detectives also reviewed Child Welfare Reports from the Lawrence County Children's and Youth Service examined dozens of "Child Line" notification reports, read text messages, and investigated the district's Title IX investigation into the matter.
Investigation revealed that three juveniles were alleged to have committed acts of abuse, humiliation, and assault upon five victims, who were all members of the varsity football team.
The incidents occurred on August 17 in the equipment room early that afternoon.
It was alleged that these acts involved the "use of foreign objects and ritualized sexual abuse." However, Lamancusa says there was no evidence found to support these allegations.
Lamancusa went on to state that interviews of the 25 witnesses confirmed a similar pattern of hazing and abuse with differences only in those who witnessed the conduct as opposed to differences in the nature of the alleged abuse.
"Specifically, there exists no evidence of criminal sexual abuse, indecent assault, and/or aggravated assault," Lamancusa wrote.
According to Lamancusa, the investigation covered not only the hazing allegations but the culture of the football team and the school district as a whole, as well as whether or not the district had any knowledge of or was complicit in any hazing activities.
Investigation revealed "no evidence of malignant culture or knowledge and/or complicit behavior by any district employee suggesting the normalized acceptance of the allegations of hazing and abuse."
Lamancusa went on to state that despite extended periods of time without adult supervision, there was "no evidence of preexisting knowledge or acceptance of the instances of hazing and abuse by the school district or any of its employees."
The juveniles who allegedly committed these acts will be heard in the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas.
The specifics of the allegations and identities of the alleged perpetrators have not been released, as they are juveniles.
You can read the entire letter below:
