Public expulsion hearings being held in Napa hazing investigation

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
NAPA, Calif. (KGO) -- Napa Valley Unified School District is holding a public expulsion hearing for a football player accused of hazing.

The hearing will be to decide whether or not to expel Johnny Torres, a Napa High School JV football player, for one year.
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"I am here because I am concerned there should be a fair process," said Rachel Smith, a parent.

"This would never be allowed in the legal world. Never," said Mandy Leigh, the attorney representing Torres.


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The high schooler along with eight other JV football players is facing expulsion after an alleged hazing incident last October.

According to a declaration by one player, they charged and held another player down while a third poked that player through his uniform pants, in the rear end.

RELATED: Police investigate alleged assaults involving Napa football team

Torres says it was just horseplay. "When kids are in a locker room horse playing, that may be obnoxious and annoying, but that is not sexual," said Torres' attorney.



A student told an administrator, who was required by state law to report it to police, who now continue to investigate.
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RELATED: Police say Napa football assaults may be ritual hazing

In the meantime, Johnny Torres, who had been an honor student, has been out of school for 10-weeks, and worries about his future.



"I need to be in school. I do not want to retake 10th grade and throw my college education down the drain," said Torres.



The school board could vote on Torres as early as Wednesday night.
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