Five former high school football players from Vermont have denied charges they used broomsticks and pool cues to sodomize younger teammates during humiliating hazing rituals said to have occurred several years ago. One of the alleged victims later killed himself.
The young men, Brandon Beliveau, 20, William Jenkins, 18, Colby Darling, 18, Ryan Carlson, 20, and Brian Lasell, 19, all played football for Milton High School in Vermont. Beliveau, Darling and Lassell appeared in court this week to enter not guilty pleas.
According to court documents, the men are accused of sticking broomsticks into the behinds of junior teammates who were being held down. The hazing activities are said to have occurred during the fall 2011 and 2012 football seasons.
According to one boy, identified in the documents as “victim #1,” another identified as “victim #4” is said to have been distraught over the broomstick incident. He committed suicide some time later, though it is not clear whether the alleged assaults were connected to his ending his life.
The alleged assaults only came to light after a parent became aware of bullying on a school bus and told authorities.
State attorney T.J. Donovan said he filed only misdemeanor simple assault charges against the five, sparing them from more serious felony charges due to their young age and the amount of time that has passed since the alleged bullying.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.
For news that's fun and never boring, visit our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TomoNewsUS
Subscribe to stay updated on all the top stories:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt-WqkTyKK1_70U4bb4k4lQ?sub_confirmation=1
Visit our officia
