3 teens charged after ‘hazing’ incident at Brooklyn high school

NEW YORK – Three teenagers from James Madison High School in Brooklyn were arrested and charged after allegedly sexually abusing a teammate on the junior varsity football team during a hazing incident.

The teens were arrested and charged with forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment.

According to New York police, two 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old forcibly restrained a 14-year-old teammate and touched his private parts without his permission.

In response, the school suspended the junior varsity and varsity football season.

However, some students who spoke with FOX 5 said the punishment was too harsh, even for the three teens involved, saying they didn’t deserve to be arrested.

“It was a simple panting situation, there was no hazing, they were just panting,” one student said. “I’m not saying it’s true at all, but these kids went to jail and spent the night there because of a situation like this.”

The schools’ football coaches were seen outside the high school Tuesday, but did not say a word to the press.

When asked for comment, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “Bullying and harassment, including hazing, have no place in our schools – period. After hearing reports of hazing, the school took immediate action. Parents were immediately informed, the school is providing support, and an investigation is underway.