The Crawford County Attorney has finalized its set of charges against 10 Seneca High School juveniles in connection to an incident that occurred at a PSU team football camp on June 10.
On Friday, Crawford County Attorney Michael Gayoso said that the charges against the juveniles were complete and filed in Crawford County District Court.
Gayoso said that his office has scheduled a meeting with the victims and their parents for July 28 to discuss the possibility of charging some of the alleged assailants as adults.
He said that he would also go through the process and explain the charges at that meeting. The Pittsburg State University Police department identified 17 of the more than 50 players from Seneca as alleged victims.
Also on Friday night, the Seneca R-VII board of education issued a statement, noting they began their investigation prior to Gayoso’s actions and that they contacted Kansas law enforcement.
“During the district's investigation, district officials interviewed the victims, perpetrators and district staff. Additionally, witness statements were taken and requests were made to law enforcement for copies of the police report. Further, the district, after having carefully reviewed the facts, took strong disciplinary action against the students responsible,” the release stated.
“The district's disciplinary action occurred on or about July 1, 2010, prior to the issuance of any criminal charges. Disciplinary action for the 12 students who allegedly perpetrated these acts ranges from suspension to expulsion. In addition, and at the same time, the district removed five students from participation in athletics for 365 days. Four additional students were removed from the 2010-11 Seneca High School football team. Further, all of the students who have been charged criminally are prohibited from participating in the district's athletic activities and will not be permitted to participate in those activities until they have either been acquitted or have completed the punishment handed down by a court of law.”
An ongoing investigation set to conclude by the end of month will determine if district employees failed in “their supervisory duties” and any who violated board policy will be disciplined. Independent investigator Dr. Sarah Spence, of Columbia, Mo., combed through the district’s handbooks and policies and interviewed district employees for a report reviewed by the board during closed session on Thursday night. The board offered no comment on the hazing or any intentions of staff discipline that evening.
Student welfare and safety, the release said, is their highest priority.
