The players taken into custody — who ranged in age
from 15 to 17 — were at home with parents or guardians when police arrived, law
enforcement sources told NJ Advance Media. Those sources, who were familiar
with the arrests, asked not to be identified because they were not authorized
to speak publicly about the matter.
The charges were
brought by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office, which confirmed the
detentions after they were first reported on NJ.com.
According to
Prosecutor Andrew Carey, three were charged with aggravated sexual assault,
aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal
sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing for engaging in an act of sexual
penetration upon one of the juvenile victims. One of those defendants and four
others were charged with various counts including aggravated assault,
conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by
participating in the attack of some of the victims.
According to the
complaints filed in the matter, one or more of the players held victims against
their will, while others improperly touched victims in a sexual manner. In one
case, one of the victims was kicked during an attack, said the prosecutor's office.
Prosecutors said
the events took place in four separate incidents at Sayreville War Memorial
High School, between Sept. 19 and Sept. 29.