Sayreville football players won't be charged as adults in hazing case

SAYREVILLE (WABC) -- The seven Sayreville War Memorial High School football players who are facing charges for alleged hazing will not be charged as adults.

Officials with the Middlesex County prosecutor's office will not seek a waiver to bring the case into adult court.

The case will remain in Family Court, and as such, it will remain closed to the public and press.

"The conduct in which the juvenile defendants engaged was serious and that is why criminal charges were filed," Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said. "The appropriate forum for the resolution of these cases is Middlesex County Family Court. Asking the court to waive these seven juvenile cases to adult court would not best serve the interests of the victims, the community, or the defendants."

The decision was announced to defense attorneys representing the juvenile defendants, who remain under house arrest and in the custody of their parents.

The accused are between 15 and 17 years old, and have not been identified.

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.

Three of the defendants are 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.

The other four are charged with various counts including aggravated assault, conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by participating in the attack of the remaining victims.

The Sayrevile school board suspended coach George Najjar and four of his assistant coaches after the scandal made national headlines. The remainder of the football season was canceled as well.

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

No adults at the school have been charged.