New Jersey high school football players arrested for hazing, sexual assault

Sayreville High School in New Jersey recently cancelled the remainder of its football season in the wake of hazing allegations that school officials described as “serious bullying and harassment” of younger players. On Friday night, at least six players were taken into custody by police on charges related to sexual assault.

According to a report from NJ.com, the players who were arrested range in ages from 15 to 17. They have been charged with various crimes including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual content, hazing and criminal restraint. Prosecutors claimed one or more victims were held against their will and touched in a sexual manner in four separate incidents occurring from Sept. 19 to Sept. 29.

One unidentified parent of a freshman football player described a sexual assault targeting younger team members. He told NJ.com the hazing took place almost every day.

The parent, who asked not to be identified because of possible repercussions in a working-class town where football is almost a religion, said the assaults would begin with a howling wolf call from a senior on the team, before the locker room lights were abruptly shut off.

In the darkness, a freshman player would be pinned to the locker room floor, his arms and feet held down by multiple upperclassmen. The victim would then be lifted to his feet while a finger was forced into his rectum. Sometimes, the same finger was then shoved into the freshman player’s mouth.

“[For] 10 seconds, the lights would go off and they would grab a freshman and they would go on,” the parent said. “Right on the floor. … It was happening every day. They would get the freshmen.”

Neither head football coach George Najjar nor any other coaches or supervisors were charged in relation to the alleged incidents. There is reason to believe Najjar was unaware of what was happening.

Being convicted of aggravated sexual assault could result in up to five years of prison time for a minor. Prosecutors could also seek the option to have some of the accused players tried as adults, which could lead to more prison time, a criminal record and having to register as a sex offender.

For whatever reason, hazing incidents seem to be getting more and more intense in high school and collegiate programs across the country. There’s a difference between bullying younger players and criminal acts. For more stories on hazing, click here.