High School Football Coaches Suspended In Sexual Hazing Scandal

Photo: Football Coach George Najjar, via Facebook

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Sayreville’s head football coach and four of his assistants who were employed as educators in the district have been suspended with pay from their coaching and teaching positions in connection with a hazing scandal.

Sayreville Board of Education President Kevin Ciak declined comment on the suspensions that were reported by a source speaking to The Asbury Park Press.

Some local residents have fought to protect George Najjar and his program, creating a Facebook page that helped collect 1,000 signatures offering support.

But Najjar and his staff were reportedly suspended as more graphic details - including players performing digital penetration on others - have emerged.

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At least three teens who face sex assault charges in the Sayreville High School football hazing scandal allegedly ” touched the juvenile victims in a sexual manner,” according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Four players would pin a freshman to the locker room floor, while two would provide lookout; one player would howl, shut off the lights and digitally penetrate the child, according to NJ.com.

The complaints charge that on various dates, between Sept. 19 and Sept. 29, one or more of the juvenile defendants held the victims “against their will” while other juvenile defendants “improperly touched the juvenile victims,” according to the MCPO release.

In one instance, one of the juvenile victims allegedly was kicked during an attack.

One juvenile defendant connected to the crimes who remained at-large Friday surrendered to authorities on Saturday, according to the MCPO. The names of the defendants were not disclosed by the MCPO.

The three students were charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing for engaging in an act of sexual penetration upon one of the juvenile victims, according to the the MCPO.

Upperclassmen “howled” as they turned off the lights and then sexually abused younger classmates, parents and players say, according to CNN.

The coaches have not commented on the details and the allegations that the abuse may have gone on for a year, according to CNN. A Sports Illustrated article says that it probably did not involve direct intercourse.

In a statement, Superintendent of Schools Richard R. Labbe said the Sayreville Board of Education “takes this matter extremely seriously and thus will continue to make the safety and welfare of our students, particularly the victims of these horrendous alleged acts, our highest priority.”

The Sayreville district, which earlier this week canceled the top-ranked football program’s season, said the administration has launched a holistic harassment intimidation and bullying investigation of all athletic and extracurricular programs “in order to ensure that we take all steps necessary now and in the future to protect all our students.”

He said the district will continue to cooperate fully with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office with respect to its ongoing investigation of the Sayreville War Memorial High School football program.

“In the ensuing days, weeks, and months, we will come together as a school district and greater community to harness the strength required to support the young men who may have been victimized and then to begin the healing process for our beloved community,” he said.

A total of six teens, ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old, were detained by law enforcement authorities pending a Family Court decision on whether the youths will be held at a detention facility pending a court hearing, according to the MCPO.

They also could be released to the custody of their parents or guardians pending the hearing.

The defendants will be required to appear before a Superior Court Judge in Family Court, but the hearing date has not been determined. Juvenile hearings are not open to the public.

No other court hearings have been scheduled.

Sayreville won the state championship three out of the last four years, and a number of parents wanted to see the season continue.

“I’ve never seen so much dedication out of my son, and I want him to play the rest of this season,” a mother said at a school meeting to the roar of applause, according to a CNN video.