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Students to face hazing incident charges
CHICAGO (AP) — A dozen girls and three boys accused of participating in the brutal hazing of junior girls from a suburban Chicago high school will face misdemeanor battery charges, prosecutors announced Friday.
John Gorman, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney, said the students — all 17- and 18-year-old seniors — will be charged as adults in the May 4 incident.
The investigation is continuing, Gorman added.
The students are accused of participating in a melee in a Cook County park that was captured on videotape.
Glenbrook North High School senior girls are shown on the tapes beating juniors and covering them with mud, paint, feces and garbage in what was originally supposed to be a "powder puff" football game. Five girls ended up in the hospital.
Misdemeanor battery charges carry a maximum sentence of nearly a year in jail, Gorman said.
The school, in the affluent suburb of Northbrook, has suspended 32 students who officials claim took part in the hazing. Although the event was off-campus and not sanctioned by the school, officials have said state and local school codes allow the 10-day suspensions.
Principal Michael Riggle says the school is recommending the students be expelled. Expulsion would bar them from the campus and school activities such as prom and graduation ceremonies, although they would still receive a diploma.
Some students have filed lawsuits to overturn the suspensions. Others are going through the school's appeals process.
Northbrook police continue to investigate whether any adults provided alcohol for the event.
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