Three of his basketball teammates were arrested and later charged with aggravated rape and aggravated assault.
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Two mothers of players on the team spoke to the Chattanooga Times Free Press after the alleged assault, suggesting their boys were also bullied by older teammates during the same trip during which the incident took place.
The team’s next scheduled game is Friday vs. Cleveland High School. Smith defended his decision “so that the criminal justice system can work the way we expect”. Tennessee NBC affiliate WRCB reported that the victim will not return to Ooltewah after he recovers from his injuries, meaning that at least four members of the basketball team will no longer be on campus at all.
A family member of the alleged victim told the Chattanoogan that the three boys, all of whom were students at Ooltewah High School in Ooltewah, Tenn., used a wooden pool stick to “sodomize” him, adding that the boy “had to undergo emergency surgery, as his colon and bladder were ruptured”.
The school board met in executive session and held a public hearing Wednesday evening that lasted only a few minutes. They said the beatings were done “on a regular basis in the locker room”.
The school board on Tuesday had not posted an agenda for Wednesday afternoon’s meeting.
Two of the accused are now being held in a juvenile detention facility in Sevier County, while the third was granted bond.
The school and county have been subjected to criticism for the way they have handled this incident from the beginning.
Welch said he welcomes local law enforcement involvement in the investigation, and said he hopes it will assure the public the situation is being properly investigated.
The victim’s aunt, speaking on behalf of the family, said they also want to see Ooltewah’s athletic director, coach and assistant coaches placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
“However, recent media reports cite family members of OHS freshman basketball players who accuse upper class teammates of an ongoing pattern of assaults allegedly committed under the guise of hazing”. Other reports seem to confirm that the basketball program at Ooltewah has had a toxic culture for some time, one enabled by those in charge.
Smith said there had been no wrongdoing found against any adult in the case.
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“We love our school”, said senior Hanna Matthews.
