Wheaton College, Players Reach Settlement In Hazing Lawsuit

WHEATON, IL — A year after several Wheaton College players were charged with brutally hazing an underclassman in 2016, the college and the majority of the accused players have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the alleged victim. According to Chicago Tribune, the confidential settlement involves six of seven players named in a suit by Charles Nagy, who asserted that the players beat and kidnapped him before leaving him left half-naked and injured on a softball field.

In a statement, Wheaton College officials said the school "regrets that this incident occurred and is saddened by any harm suffered by Charles Nagy."

Nagy had alleged that he was ambushed in 2016, beaten, blindfolded, and taken to a nearby softball field where he was left with reported shoulder injuries that his attorney said required surgery.

Five football players — Samuel TeBos, Kyler Kregel, Benjamin Pettway, Noah Spielman, and James Cooksey — were charged with mob action, kidnapping, and other felonies following the alleged attack.

TeBos, Kregel, Spielman, and Cooksey reached plea deals. Pettway's case is still in court, according to Chicago Tribune.

Two other football players, Tyler Sigler and Nick Blazeck, were named as defendants in the subsequent lawsuit, which also alleged that hazing at Wheaton College had been a "well-established tradition."

Related: Wheaton College Hazings A 'Well-Established Tradition:' Lawsuit

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