Sayreville Football Players Charged With Locker Room Sexual Assaults

NJ.com reports tonight that seven Sayreville War Memorial High School football players are facing charges due to a series of alleged sexual assaults on four victims in the locker room.

Sayreville's superintendent canceled the team's season earlier this week due to allegations of "serious bullying and harrassment," and the charges thus far revealed by NJ.com are in line with the tips we've received as to the extreme conduct leveled against the victims:

The parent of one victim later described what occurred as a violent ritual involving anal sexual attacks by seniors who routinely preyed on freshmen. [...] According to the complaints filed in the matter, one or more of the players held victims against their will, while others improperly touched victims in a sexual manner. In one case, one of the victims was kicked during an attack, said the prosecutor's office.

Sayreville's star player is Myles Hartsfield, who has committed to play for Penn State next year. NJ.com reports police were seen at Hartsfield's home, but it's not known if he is one of the players charged. Because the players taken into custody are minors, police aren't revealing any names.

According to Prosecutor Andrew Carey, three 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. One of those defendants and four others were charged with various counts including aggravated assault, conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by participating in the attack of some of the victims.

[ NJ.com]

Photo credit: AP

Update (11:25 p.m.): An individual was taken away from Myles Hartsfield's home by police, though NJ.com is unclear on whether it was the Penn State commit.