Reed-Custer school officials deny abuse allegations in federal lawsuit

Reed-Custer School District 255 officials deny they were aware of an alleged culture of abuse, hazing, bullying and assault that victimized a young, aspiring football player, according to a federal lawsuit.

Superintendent Mark Mitchell said in an email that district officials “unequivocally deny” the allegations in the lawsuit filed by the parents of the victim, who was allegedly hazed, bullied and sexually assaulted.

“We intend to vigorously defend these baseless allegations and protect the reputation of our fine school district and its staff,” Mitchell said.

The student claims that on July 19, 2017, he was attacked by football players and sexually assaulted by one of them. Mitchell said in an email that on the evening of that day, district personnel were advised of an incident that occurred during summer football camp earlier that evening.

“The incident involved a few athletes and occurred outside the football locker room," Mitchell said.

"The incident was witnessed by numerous athletes," he said.

"The coaching staff did not witness the incident as they were in the football locker room passing out and fitting equipment for participants in the camp," Mitchell said.

District officials investigated the incident and the athletes involved were “promptly disciplined,” Mitchell said.

Braidwood Police Chief Nick Ficarello said police conducted an investigation of the incident.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office reviewed the investigation and three juvenile football players were charged with aggravated battery in a public place, Ficarello said.

Charles B. Pelkie, spokesman for the state's attorney's office, said the three juveniles have a trial date scheduled for Jan. 4. The trial is to be held at River Valley Justice Center, he said.

Before the student was hazed, school officials took no action to end the abuse and tacitly sanctioned the custom, tradition or practice of engaging in hazing of a sexual nature, the lawsuit said.

During a pregame pep talk, Mark Wolf, the school's varsity football coach, encouraged players to "unleash their inner rapist" or "rip off" the genitals of the opposing team, according to the lawsuit.

In one incident, two football players, who are not named, verbally bullied and harassed the victim with sex abuse threats, according to the lawsuit.

Reed-Custer is in the same athletic football conference as Streator, Sandwich, and formerly Seneca.