Basketball players face charges in Deschutes County
1 Comments Published by Pioneer Staff on Monday, June 18, 2007 at 12:22 PM.
By Abby Sewell
Molalla Pioneer
The five Molalla High School varsity basketball players facing trial on sex abuse charges in Clatsop County are now facing charges in Deschutes County as well.
On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Cody Anderson, 16; John Berokoff, 18; Joshua Haqq, 17; and Onisefor Kutsev, 17; and Vlasy Kutsev, 16; on three counts each of first degree unlawful sexual penetration, third degree assault, and first degree sexual abuse; two counts each of third degree sexual abuse and harassment; and one count each of attempted unlawful sexual penetration, attempted sexual abuse; and third degree attempted assault.
All are being tried as adults.
Only one victim, a freshman male team member, was cited in the alleged series of hazing-related sexual abuse incidents, which were reported to have occurred during team road trips to Sisters and Seaside, Ore. in December of 2006.
The incident in Seaside, which brought on the Clatsop County charges, allegedly occurred on a bus; while the incidents in Sisters allegedly happened over a period of days in the hotel where the team was staying. The victim reported being repeatedly subjected to unwanted sexual contact by the older team members.
Asked why the Deschutes County district attorney’s office waited until now to press charges, district attorney Michael Dugan said, “It was just convenience and timing.”
The defendants will be arraigned within the next week, he said.
Dugan said if convicted in both counties, it would be up to the judge to decide whether the defendants would serve sentences for both convictions at the same time or consecutively.
He declined to comment further on the case, other than to note, “All of them are presumed innocent and the fact of a charging document does not convict them.”
Response in the school district
A new Molalla High School coaches manual, which was written partially in response to the incidents in Deschutes and Clatsop County, was approved at Thursday’s school board meeting.
In the lengthy section on hazing and harassment, the manual states, “Students making unwanted comments or who engage in unwanted touching that is sexual in nature are subject to discipline including suspension, expulsion and/or referral to police … Consequences for hazing will result in removal from the team and contact of law enforcement.”
The new policy also stipulates that at least one coach must ride in the back of the bus during team trips.
MHS athletic director Steve Boynton said that in August all district coaches will be required to participate in a training session dealing with hazing.
Molalla Pioneer
The five Molalla High School varsity basketball players facing trial on sex abuse charges in Clatsop County are now facing charges in Deschutes County as well.
On Thursday, a grand jury indicted Cody Anderson, 16; John Berokoff, 18; Joshua Haqq, 17; and Onisefor Kutsev, 17; and Vlasy Kutsev, 16; on three counts each of first degree unlawful sexual penetration, third degree assault, and first degree sexual abuse; two counts each of third degree sexual abuse and harassment; and one count each of attempted unlawful sexual penetration, attempted sexual abuse; and third degree attempted assault.
All are being tried as adults.
Only one victim, a freshman male team member, was cited in the alleged series of hazing-related sexual abuse incidents, which were reported to have occurred during team road trips to Sisters and Seaside, Ore. in December of 2006.
The incident in Seaside, which brought on the Clatsop County charges, allegedly occurred on a bus; while the incidents in Sisters allegedly happened over a period of days in the hotel where the team was staying. The victim reported being repeatedly subjected to unwanted sexual contact by the older team members.
Asked why the Deschutes County district attorney’s office waited until now to press charges, district attorney Michael Dugan said, “It was just convenience and timing.”
The defendants will be arraigned within the next week, he said.
Dugan said if convicted in both counties, it would be up to the judge to decide whether the defendants would serve sentences for both convictions at the same time or consecutively.
He declined to comment further on the case, other than to note, “All of them are presumed innocent and the fact of a charging document does not convict them.”
Response in the school district
A new Molalla High School coaches manual, which was written partially in response to the incidents in Deschutes and Clatsop County, was approved at Thursday’s school board meeting.
In the lengthy section on hazing and harassment, the manual states, “Students making unwanted comments or who engage in unwanted touching that is sexual in nature are subject to discipline including suspension, expulsion and/or referral to police … Consequences for hazing will result in removal from the team and contact of law enforcement.”
The new policy also stipulates that at least one coach must ride in the back of the bus during team trips.
MHS athletic director Steve Boynton said that in August all district coaches will be required to participate in a training session dealing with hazing.
I realize that in the USA you are innocent until proven guilty and we have the right to a fair trial. If the young men in question are convicted will the coaches be fired? If they are not fired why not? It is the responsibilty of the coaches and chaperones on road trips to keep tabs and control of the team. When I was in high school the adults knew what we were doing all the time. Are these coaches lazy or are they just ignorant?