(WWJ) Four students -- one 17 year-old and three 18-year-olds -- have been charged as adults in connection to alleged hazing at Warren's De La Salle High.
They were formally charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, while a fifth student is expected to be charged tomorrow. The assault charge carries a penalty of up to three months in jail.
Charged were Galico Lovelace, 17, of Sterling Heights; Michael Young, 18, of Sterling Heights; Ricky Pearson of Eastpointe, 18; and Sean Bonery, 18, of Warren. All four students were members of the school's varsity football team, which had its season cut short on the eve of the MHSAA state playoffs back in October when the allegations came to light.
An investigation by Warren police determined that football players used broomsticks in a sexual manner to taunt other players in the locker room. Police said the incident did not involve penetration.
Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer earlier told WWJ there is more than one alleged victim involved.
"After the St. Clair prosecutor denied the first warrant because the victim wouldn't come forward and cooperate, we received a number of calls from parents over at De La Salle indicating that their son or sons had been victims," Dwyer told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "Based on that, our investigation did continue, and as a result of that investigation — you might call it the second investigation — we again presented our findings to the St. Clair prosecutor."
Attorney Jack Kramer, who represents Lovelace, tells WWJ he is looking forward to the time in court to clear his client's name.
"Frankly, I feel bad for my client having to be dragged through this ordeal. He absolutely and totally denies any involvement in this. He denies having assaulting anyone, he denies any hazing," Kramer told WWJ's Jon Hewett.
Each student entered not-guilty pleas received $1,000 personal bonds, pending preliminary examination dates to be scheduled. Bond conditions include no contact with the alleged victims in the case, no leaving the state without permission and no assaultive behavior.
"From the beginning we indicated, obviously as a law enforcement agency, that a crime had been committed. We were responsible for that investigation and we actually interviewed close to 90 people — coaches, administrators and the football team at De La Salle, and it was a very extensive investigation," Dwyer said.
"So we're hoping that this will help bring closure to De La Salle, the parents and the students."
A spokesperson for De La Salle declined to comment, telling WWJ that school would issue a statement once it was formally advised of the charges.
The case is being handled by the St. Clair County Prosecutor's Office due to a potential conflict of interest in Macomb County.
