[ad_1]
-
Steve Belles with Brad Cesmat
-
Nathaniel Thomas arraignment
-
Attorney defends charged Hamilton player
-
Nathaniel Thomas released from jail
-
Nathaniel Thomas’s initial court appearance
-
Here’s what we know about the Hamilton High arrests
Chandler police returned to Hamilton High School on Thursday morning to search for records and other documentation related to assault allegations that date back to September 2015.
The search following Wednesday night’s graduation ceremony was announced by Chandler police spokesman Sgt. Daniel Mejia as a follow-up to a “very much active” case that resulted in the arrests and charging of three football players.
Police records indicate a series of assaults and attempted assaults involving four victims younger than 15 were at the hands of fellow athletes. Police and Chandler Unified School District said a third party alerted them in February about the allegations, which are believed to have occurred from September 2015 to January.
Six teens were arrested March 29 at the school, and three were charged.
One player, Nathaniel William Thomas, 17, was charged with a series of felonies involving three victims. The teen was charged as an adult with sexual assault and multiple counts of molestation, kidnapping and aggravated assault. He was released from the Maricopa County Lower Buckeye Jail on April 6 after paying a $25,000 bond.
Two 16-year-old players charged in juvenile court face kidnapping, aggravated assault and assault charges.
Hamilton football coach Steve Belles was reassigned in the wake of the scandal. Belles told Sports360AZ host Brad Cesmat last month that his responsibility as coach leaves him ultimately responsible.
“I was the captain of the ship. I’m the one being held responsible. That’s just the way it goes when you’re the guy in charge,” Belles said.
Chandler Unified School District announced in May that Belles had been offered a teaching contract for the 2017-2018 school year but would not return to coaching.
READ MORE:
Belles takes blame for Hamilton hazing scandal
Mountain Ridge wrestlers tied to 5 assault reports
Juvenile defendants in Hamilton case released
Report: Wrestler said sexual attack was recorded
Email launched Hamilton locker-room assault case
Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/2sj94n6
[ad_2]
Source link