The parents of a student at Mohawk Jr. Sr. High School have taken legal action against the Mohawk Area School District on Monday.

The parents are suing in connection with alleged retaliation against a student who was the victim of an alleged hazing incident back in the fall of 2022.

It was alleged that during nap time at the district's football camp, approximately 10 to 15 upperclassmen were in a utility closet and that freshman football players were brought into the room and subjected to hazing that was sexual in nature.

Following the investigation by the district and Lawrence County District Attorney Josh Lamancusa, two of those seniors were expelled from the school, however no one else received any form of discipline according to the suit.

The suit also alleges there was no investigation into the conduct of the administration or coaching staff concerning the allegations.

The suit goes on to discuss a special board meeting where Lamancusa indicated there was no sexual assault or hazing of any kind going on at the school.

The suit states that the student's parents all attended the meeting and spoke about the incident and were "berated" and "victim shamed" by other parents in attendance.

According to the suit, the student was suspended and later expelled in November of 2022 due to a video taken on the day of the alleged incident. The suit states this video did not present any new information that administration and the school board were not previously aware of.

The suit states none of the other freshmen involved received any discipline. 

The suit alleges that the student was expelled as a form of retaliation against one of his parents condemning the school district, the school board and coaches during board meetings and online.

Furthermore, the suit states that in December, the student was charged with disorderly conduct, but the charges were ultimately dismissed by a judge in March of 2023.

According to the suit, the student's parents requested the school board to reconsider the student's expulsion, but this request was denied every time.

"Further, the Defendants in the case, the Mohawk Area School District Administrators and school board members by wrongfully expelling S.S. from high
school in retaliation for his mother's seeking a fair resolution of the misconduct occurring on August 17, 2022, deprived S.S. of a normal high school education, a
normal high school experience and the opportunity to play high school sports and perhaps college and professional sports," the suit reads.

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