Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced it is highly unlikely charges will be filed in the locker room incident at Western Hills University High School. We committed to the mother of the student not to finalize the decision until Friday of this week.

On August 30, while inside the locker room, members of the Western Hills football team grabbed another teammate and pulled his pants down. Shortly after, this short video of the incident began circulating to other students at the high school.

At the time this incident took place, no Cincinnati Public Schools staff or coaches were present or involved.

As a result of this incident, the students involved have been recommended for expulsion, the head coach of the football team has been fired, and the football season was cancelled immediately. Disciplinary decisions were made by Cincinnati Public Schools.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters commented, “I am stunned by the overreaction of Cincinnati Public Schools. Firing the coach, who was not involved in this incident, and cancelling the football season for the entire team is wrong. Their actions affected kids on the team who were not even present.

By all accounts, this football coach was a positive influence in these kids’ lives. And being a part of a high school team keeps kids off the street and on the straight and narrow. This coach was providing necessary guidance and rules for these kids, which is needed for boys of this age. Why we would take any of that away from these students is beyond me.”