Three juveniles were charged Friday with aggravated rape in connection with a July 30 hazing incident during a football camp at Claiborne High School.
According to a release from Eighth Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler, the New Tazewell Police Department has charged three juveniles with being delinquent via aggravated rape in connection to the July 30 incident at CHS. The matter has been investigated by the New Tazewell Police Department with assistance from the Tazewell Police and the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office.
The juveniles are presumed innocent with the charges being accusations and not evidence, the statement said.
Earlier this week head football coach Nathan Medlin handed in his resignation. The move came just three weeks before the season was to begin for the Bulldogs. Medlin’s resignation is effective immediately. Corey McGinnis was named to coach on an interim basis for the 2024 season, according to CHS officials who said practice has resumed and the team will play this season.
The Claiborne County Board of Education held an executive session Wednesday which was closed to the public due to attorney-client privilege. A regular board meeting was held Thursday, but discussion of the alleged incident was not on the agenda.
According to a statement from the Claiborne County Department of Education, administrators became aware of the incident related to Claiborne High School students.
“Administration immediately contacted (New Tazewell Police), asking (that) law enforcement take the lead in conducting a full investigation into this situation,” the release stated. “Because this involves allegations concerning students, both state and federal confidentiality laws prohibit the school system from offering any specific comments at this time. Claiborne County Schools would instead defer all further questions to the New Tazewell Police or to the Claiborne County District Attorney’s Office.”
Due to the nature of the investigation further details on the alleged rape have not been publicly released.
Claiborne is scheduled to host Grainger High on Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
