Four high school football players in Maryland are facing rape charges after they “viciously” attacked younger boys at with a broom inside a freshman locker room, according to authorities.
ABC13 reports that the suspects, all 15 years old, will be tried as adults. All four are charged with felony first-degree rape, conspiracy to commit rape, and attempted first-degree rape in connection with an October 31 incident at Damascus High School in Dasmascus.
According to court documents, the suspects were identified as Kristian “KJ” Jamal Lee, Will Daniel Smith, Jean Claude “JC” Abedi, and Caleb Thorpe.
The first victim, a freshman football player, was in a locker room getting ready for practice when someone turned the lights out. Two of the suspects. Abedi and Lee, reportedly approached the victim, grabbed his shoulders, threw him on the floor, and pulled his pants down. While one of the suspects held the victim’s feet down, the other suspect allegedly “poked in his buttocks with the wooden broom.”
The victim told investigators that the suspects laughed while sodomizing him, then let him go and found two other freshman football players, and did the same thing to them. The second victim reportedly told authorities that the suspects grabbed his pants and pulled them down, then sodomized him with a broom.
The ordeal may have been part of a hazing “tradition,” according to one of the victims, who indicated suspect Smith told him the broom had been used “for generations.”
The incident surfaced after one of the victim’s father found his son crying in his bedroom. The boy admitted what happened and his father immediately contacted the football coaches, who in turn contacted the high school principle. Following protocol, school administration contacted the police.
“Victim C said after they finished with him, they proceeded to Victim A where they pulled Victim A’s sweatshirt over the top of his head, punched him in the face, knocked him on his back and stomped on him.” arrest documents obtained by FOX5 News state.
Damascus High School Rape A… by on Scribd
Court documents indicate a fifth suspect has been charged as a juvenile.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said he’s now looking into possible previous incidents, but was quick to add that he doesn’t feel the incident was part of a hazing tradition.
“I’m offended by the term ‘hazing.’ It’s not hazing, these are crimes and I would caution anyone to refer to this as hazing….They were not victims of hazing they were victims of first degree rape and attempted rape; these were crimes.”
Meanwhile, defense attorney David Felsen claims the suspects are innocent and wants them out of adult court.
“These are 15 year old kids, and that, all of that has to be kept in mind,” Felson explained.
The suspects were released from jail on $20,000 bond each, while awaiting their next court hearing. They’re required to stay away from the victims and can’t return to school.
The story continues to develop. Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Pixabay]
