What to Know
- Four 15-year-old boys were charged as adults after an alleged rape in the boys locker room of Damascus High School in Damascus, Maryland.
- Students told News4 the suspects and victims were all members of the junior varsity football team.
- In a letter to parents, Principal Casey Crouse referred to hazing.
Editor's Notes (Feb. 15, 2019, 6:38 p.m. ET; Feb. 22, 2019, 5:18 p.m. ET; March 14, 2019, 7:42 p.m. ET; March 21, 2019, 11:37 a.m. EST): This story has been updated to reflect that the cases of three teenagers charged in adult court were moved to juvenile court.
Four 15-year-old boys have been charged as adults after the alleged rape of fellow junior varsity football players inside a Damascus High School locker room.
The four teens previously charged as juveniles now face adult charges, Montgomery County police announced Wednesday morning.
All four teens were charged as adults on Wednesday. The teens' cases were moved to juvenile court on Feb. 15, Feb. 22, March 14 and March 21. News4 does not name suspects charged as juveniles.
A fifth juvenile, who police did not name, remains charged as a juvenile.
Four of the teens were set to spend Thanksgiving weekend in jail ahead of a court appearance Monday.
Police said they would not release the suspects' photos because they are juveniles.
The five members of the junior varsity football team were arrested and charged with abusing four teammates using a broom in what has been described as a hazing ritual.
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The alleged attack occurred after school in the boys locker room on October 31, Halloween. It wasn't clear if there was an adult in or near the locker room at the time.
In a letter to parents, Principal Casey Crouse referred to hazing.
"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," he said in a letter to parents.
All coaches and activity advisors are now required to train student athletes on the dangers of hazing, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith said Monday. He said this lesson will include information on "how to identify if they are being victimized in any way or they think they might be, and how to stop their friends if they think their friends are going to do something that could move from verbal abuse to criminal activity."
No one who works at Damascus High has been suspended or fired. The superintendent said any disciplinary actions would occur once the police investigation is complete.
Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
