No Charges Result from Hoosac Valley Hazing Report

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- The Northwestern District Attorney's Office has announced that it found no evidence of criminal conduct in an investigation of alleged hazing in the Hoosac Valley High School football program.

 

Northwestern DA David E. Sullivan's office took over the investigation this fall after the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office cited a potential conflict of interest in the case.

 

The initial report of potential hazing in the program prompted school district officials to institute a "pause" in football team activities that ultimately led to the cancelation of regularly scheduled games against Taconic and Monument Mountain in the second and third weeks of the regular season, respectively.

 

In a news release posted on its website tuesday morning, the Northwestern DA said, "prosecutors determined that no criminal conduct occurred," citing Massachusetts General Law Chapter 269, section 17.

 

The news release said the investigation stemmed from a report by a coach on Sept. 17 who told school officials what he witnessed. The school officials contacted law enforcement on Sept. 18, the release reads.

 

"The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office agreed to head up the investigation through its State Police Detective Unit under the supervision of its Child Protection Unit," the release reads.

 

After going 0-6 in what was originally scheduled as an eight-game regular season, Hoosac Valley will conclude its fall campaign with two games against other non-qualifiers for the state tournament, starting this Saturday with an 11 a.m. home game against Monument Mountain.