Sexual hazing alleged in Minnesota case–felony possible

Excerpt and Post-Bulletin story link (reporter Tim Ruzek):

The Post-Bulletin

A 17-year-old Austin boy is facing a felony charge for his role in hazing a fellow member of Austin High School’s boys hockey team in October.

The boy is charged in Mower Juvenile Court with a felony count of aiding and abetting indecent exposure and a gross-misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The juvenile petition was filed May 25.

According to the petition, a 16-year-old boy went to the Law Enforcement Center on Nov. 2 to report an assault. He told police he was participating in a captain’s preseason hockey practice at Packer Arena in Austin on Oct. 26. Coaches are not present at those practices.

After the practice, team members changed into clothes before going home to shower. The team captains already had left when someone hollered that there was a hockey meeting in the next room, the petition says. When the boy walked in, the 17-year-old allegedly grabbed him from behind, wrestled him to the floor and held his arms.

Another player who was naked then approached the boy and allegedly tried to make nonconsensual sexual contact with him, but the boy was able to push him away. The boy told police he was humiliated and frightened by the incident, which about 10 other people witnessed. Some were laughing and others told the boys to stop but no one came to the victim’s assistance, the petition says.