Westlake High Football Team Member Arrested For Alleged Sexual Assault During Hazing
WESTLAKE VILLAGE (CBSLA.com) — A football player from Westlake High School's football team was reportedly arrested for committing a sexual hazing assault while in Hawaii on a recent trip.
Earlier reports said three players were arrested but that was discounted as being erroneous.
CBS2/KCAL9 confirmed one player was arrested and charged with third-degree sexual assault. The alleged victim is another high school football player.
Parents told Hawaiian TV station KITV that as many as 25 Westlake seniors assaulted five younger freshmen players in a hazing incident at the Hyatt Place Waikki.
Jeff Davis, the director of secondary education for the Conejo Valley Unified School District, said in a statement, "We were disappointed to learn of the incident. We are working with the WHS administration and football coaching staff to determine just what occurred and to develop the appropriate actions in response."
CBS2's Greg Mills says an investigation into the alleged incident is underway.
He reported, "One boy was assaulted, one boy arrested and parents are shocked by what happened."
Westlake boasts of being one of the top-ranked football programs in Ventura County.
One student told Mills that reputation is taking a big hit.
"We like all found out at a party last night and the news was spreading and it was pretty crazy," said Joey Itkin.
Joey's mom, Gabrielle Itkin, told Mills, "It scared me to death when I heard what happened and gave me the chills."
The woman's son didn't make the trip to Hawaii. It cost $1,600 to go.
Joey was one of ten freshmen that didn't make the trip.
"I am very happy he did not go," said Itkin.
She hopes the team disciplines the student or students involved. Or she says she will pull her son off the team.
"Something has to be done," she said.
Honolulu police told Mills there are no plans to prosecute the boy who was arrested but they also said the cast was still "under investigation."
Jeff Nguyen, reporting for KCAL9, said he spoke to the superintendent who planned to meet with school staff Monday morning to determine exactly what happened and what to do next.
