Review of NJ anti-bullying laws urged after Sayreville high school hazing charges

SAYREVILLE (WABC) -- New Jersey's acting education commissioner wants a review of the state's anti-bullying legislation after seven Sayreville high school football players were charged with hazing last week.

The students are facing charges after being accused of sexually assaulting other male members of the team. A total of seven juveniles are facing charges including aggravated sexual assault and criminal restraint. They are between the ages of 15 and 17, and have not been identified.

Meanwhile the investigation has turned to the coaching staff, with the schools superintendent asking the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office if he has permission to speak to the coaches, to find out if they were aware of the alleged behavior.

Several hundred people were part of a rally in Sayreville Sunday night against bullying amid the allegations of sex-related hazing involving high school football team members. Residents showed support at the rally for the four victims who spoke up, by carrying candles on a walk around the lake in Kennedy Park, hoping for healing.

Sayreville is in the cross hairs of attention over allegations that are hard to comprehend.

The seven accused students have been suspended from school. The football season is over, but this could put the school's entire athletic program in jeopardy. School officials will also be checking on all after-school activities to make sure bullying is not taking place.

Elected officials are demanding more answers.

"There's still so many unanswered questions..where was the coaching staff, where were the grownups who were supposed to be supervising these students? We need to understand what their responsibility is, and where their accountability lies," said Assemblyman John Wisniewski.

According to the complaint, on various dates between Sept. 19 and Sept. 29 one or more of the juvenile defendants either held the victims against their will, while other juvenile defendants improperly touched the juvenile victims in a sexual manner.

It also is charged that in one instance, one of the juvenile victims was kicked during an attack.

Those charged have not been identified due to being underage.

The Sayreville Superintendent released a statement saying, "As should be evident by now, 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 district administration has already launched a holistic harassment intimidation and bullying (HIB) 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. Furthermore, we 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."