Two Hinton wrestlers and their parents have sued the school district, administrators and coaches, saying they enabled a wrestling program that was "a breeding ground for harassment and bullying," culminating in incidents in which underclassmen allegedly were assaulted with sex toys and an electric stun gun.
After learning of the incidents, coaches did not inform parents or school administrators or try to prevent future incidents, instead telling wrestlers to delete social media accounts that could get the students and coaches in trouble.
"(The district) was aware that bullying, hazing and violence were a problem on the wrestling team and did nothing to stop it. In fact, the actions of the coaches and athletic director encouraged the behavior. They personally witnessed it on many occasions," the lawsuits said.
Filed earlier this month in Plymouth County District Court, the lawsuits allege negligence by the school district, superintendent Ken Slater, then-head coach Casey Crawford, assistant coach Bradley "Woody" Skuodas and athletic director Brian DeJong. The lawsuits also claim negligent supervision by the school district, which, the suits said, did not have adequate measures in place to prevent the behavior or protect students from it and did not train its employees how to respond to bullying, assault and sadomasochistic abuse by its students.
Slater referred questions to the district's attorneys, Timothy and Zachary Clausen, of Sioux City.
"The lawsuits and the division they have caused in the Hinton School District community are certainly unfortunate. While the district intends to zealously defend against the claims, it is district policy to not comment on pending litigation, especially when such litigation involves minor students of the district. The administration, faculty and staff of the district will continue to work tirelessly toward improving all academic and extracurricular programs to provide a positive and safe learning environment for the benefit of all students," Timothy Clausen said in an email to the Journal Thursday.
Ken Slater, Hinton Community School District Superintendent, talks about the need to pass a bond issue and levy to improve the district's. Comments came during a public forum on Oct. 26.
Tim Hynds
The lawsuits paint a picture of a wrestling program in which coaches encouraged physical and mental intimidation. Common during practice were games such as "slap back," in which wrestlers were slapped on the back so hard that marks remained for days, and "target" in which individuals, usually a junior varsity team member, were pelted with dodge balls by the rest of team with the goal to hit the student as hard as possible.
"The coaches were well aware of all of the above-described practices and were present for much if not all of it," the suits said, and coaches did not end them after being confronted by parents about it.
The lawsuits said wrestlers were choked out, tripped, punched and shoved in the locker room, during practice and meets. Some wrestlers were so afraid of being in the locker room, the suits said, they would change their clothes in their vehicles and would not shower at school.
The behavior intensified during two trips in which the team stayed at hotels while participating in tournaments during this past season.
While at a tournament in Omaha in January, the suits said, wrestlers were allowed to leave the hotel and go to a mall, where several wrestlers bought dildos and other sex toys. That night at the hotel, some students "forcibly" used dildos on other wrestlers, holding one wrestler down while another wrestler shoved a dildo down the boy's throat. Wrestlers took photos and videos and sent them to members of the team's group Snapchat social media account.
According to the lawsuits, coaches later became aware of the sex items and claimed to have confiscated them, but didn't inform any parents or school administrators about what had happened.
Parents seek more answers about Hinton wrestling assault probe involving stun gun
UPDATED: Hinton wrestling coach placed on leave in wake of assault investigations
On the weekend of Feb. 2-3, while staying in a Coralville, Iowa, hotel for the state dual wrestling tournament, underclassmen were targeted by some older team members, the suits said.
The lawsuits said one of the upperclassmen involved in the alleged assaults in Omaha brought a stun gun. On the nights of Feb. 2 and 3, a Friday and Saturday, three upperclassmen, who the lawsuit said were known by school officials to have caused problems in the past with their "violent and bullying behavior" shocked freshmen with the stun gun.
Two of the upperclassmen would restrain a freshman on a bed and hold their hands over his mouth while a third upperclassman shocked him. Other freshmen were shocked while standing up, and some agreed to shock themselves after being threatened by the upperclassmen and asked "Would you like to do this the easy way or the hard way?"
One freshman who had been held down and shocked on Friday night was held down again on Saturday and threatened.
"In a video of the incident, a student states the upperclassmen appeared to 'torture' (the freshman)," the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit said Crawford, Skuodas and DeJong, who accompanied the team as the athletic director, did not check on wrestlers' rooms during the entire stay, and instead had taken the two free drink vouchers each room received and were in or near the hotel lobby drinking alcohol while the alleged assaults occurred.
By Sunday, coaches were aware of the incidents, the suits said, but did not inform parents, who became aware of the incidents later that day after a parent found video of them on a wrestler's phone. That parent contacted other parents and an assistant coach, who, according to the lawsuit, said he would initiate the reporting process but also said "this could negatively affect the wrestling program."
Hinton School Board accepts wrestling coach's resignation, discusses policies
On Monday, Crawford sent an email to the team at 6:45 a.m. that included the practice schedule and a team dinner, but did not mention the alleged shocking incidents.
That same morning, a mother of one of the wrestlers who had been assaulted went to the school and showed a video of the incident to the guidance counselor, who notified Slater.
At a team meeting that afternoon, the lawsuits said, Crawford yelled at wrestlers about what had happened, specifically with sex toys and stun guns, telling them, "this is how coaches get f-----g fired." He then told them to delete the Snapchat group chat from their phones because it would get him, and them, in trouble.
Crawford and Skuodas were placed on administrative leave, but Crawford was allowed to continue in his teaching position, conducting a homeroom period for one of the victims and teaching two of the other victims in a class.
Coralville police received a call the day after the tournament about a possible assault involving the Hinton wrestlers. Police Chief Shane Kron said in February he could not comment on the case during the investigation and would not release the juveniles' names. Kron did not respond Thursday to voice mail and email inquiries about the status of the investigation.
Team members' behaviors also led to a Hinton police investigation. Police chief James Conway said in February he could not comment on an ongoing investigation. He did not respond Thursday to messages inquiring if the investigation has been completed.
Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond said he was aware of the allegations, but had no comment on any investigations, charges or other matters within juvenile court. In most cases except those involving the most serious crimes, juvenile court files are confidential.
The three students believed to be the perpetrators were suspended for 10 days and did not wrestle in the district meet, preventing them from possibly qualifying for the individual state tournament. The school board ultimately voted 3-1 during a special session to "reassign" two of the three from school.
Skuodas was reinstated to his coaching position after serving two days on administrative leave and coached the team at the state individual wrestling tournament in Des Moines, where team members wore t-shirts saying "Free Crawford."
Crawford resigned his coaching position in March. He did not respond to a text message seeking comment. Skuodas remains on contract through the school year.
DeJong, who also was the middle school principal, submitted his resignation, effective in June, in March. He was not at school Thursday and did not return messages seeking comment.
The parents, who are represented by Des Moines attorneys Alison Kanne and Reuben Neff, said in the lawsuits their sons have suffered mental, physical and emotional distress. They are seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial and punitive damages. The parents' names are listed in court filings, but the Journal is not referring to them by name in order to protect the identities of their sons, who are referred to in the lawsuits only by their initials.
nonpareilonline.com
After learning of the incidents, coaches did not inform parents or school administrators or try to prevent future incidents, instead telling wrestlers to delete social media accounts that could get the students and coaches in trouble.
"(The district) was aware that bullying, hazing and violence were a problem on the wrestling team and did nothing to stop it. In fact, the actions of the coaches and athletic director encouraged the behavior. They personally witnessed it on many occasions," the lawsuits said.
Filed earlier this month in Plymouth County District Court, the lawsuits allege negligence by the school district, superintendent Ken Slater, then-head coach Casey Crawford, assistant coach Bradley "Woody" Skuodas and athletic director Brian DeJong. The lawsuits also claim negligent supervision by the school district, which, the suits said, did not have adequate measures in place to prevent the behavior or protect students from it and did not train its employees how to respond to bullying, assault and sadomasochistic abuse by its students.
Slater referred questions to the district's attorneys, Timothy and Zachary Clausen, of Sioux City.
"The lawsuits and the division they have caused in the Hinton School District community are certainly unfortunate. While the district intends to zealously defend against the claims, it is district policy to not comment on pending litigation, especially when such litigation involves minor students of the district. The administration, faculty and staff of the district will continue to work tirelessly toward improving all academic and extracurricular programs to provide a positive and safe learning environment for the benefit of all students," Timothy Clausen said in an email to the Journal Thursday.
Ken Slater, Hinton Community School District Superintendent, talks about the need to pass a bond issue and levy to improve the district's. Comments came during a public forum on Oct. 26.
Tim Hynds
The lawsuits paint a picture of a wrestling program in which coaches encouraged physical and mental intimidation. Common during practice were games such as "slap back," in which wrestlers were slapped on the back so hard that marks remained for days, and "target" in which individuals, usually a junior varsity team member, were pelted with dodge balls by the rest of team with the goal to hit the student as hard as possible.
"The coaches were well aware of all of the above-described practices and were present for much if not all of it," the suits said, and coaches did not end them after being confronted by parents about it.
The lawsuits said wrestlers were choked out, tripped, punched and shoved in the locker room, during practice and meets. Some wrestlers were so afraid of being in the locker room, the suits said, they would change their clothes in their vehicles and would not shower at school.
The behavior intensified during two trips in which the team stayed at hotels while participating in tournaments during this past season.
While at a tournament in Omaha in January, the suits said, wrestlers were allowed to leave the hotel and go to a mall, where several wrestlers bought dildos and other sex toys. That night at the hotel, some students "forcibly" used dildos on other wrestlers, holding one wrestler down while another wrestler shoved a dildo down the boy's throat. Wrestlers took photos and videos and sent them to members of the team's group Snapchat social media account.
According to the lawsuits, coaches later became aware of the sex items and claimed to have confiscated them, but didn't inform any parents or school administrators about what had happened.
Parents seek more answers about Hinton wrestling assault probe involving stun gun
UPDATED: Hinton wrestling coach placed on leave in wake of assault investigations
On the weekend of Feb. 2-3, while staying in a Coralville, Iowa, hotel for the state dual wrestling tournament, underclassmen were targeted by some older team members, the suits said.
The lawsuits said one of the upperclassmen involved in the alleged assaults in Omaha brought a stun gun. On the nights of Feb. 2 and 3, a Friday and Saturday, three upperclassmen, who the lawsuit said were known by school officials to have caused problems in the past with their "violent and bullying behavior" shocked freshmen with the stun gun.
Two of the upperclassmen would restrain a freshman on a bed and hold their hands over his mouth while a third upperclassman shocked him. Other freshmen were shocked while standing up, and some agreed to shock themselves after being threatened by the upperclassmen and asked "Would you like to do this the easy way or the hard way?"
One freshman who had been held down and shocked on Friday night was held down again on Saturday and threatened.
"In a video of the incident, a student states the upperclassmen appeared to 'torture' (the freshman)," the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit said Crawford, Skuodas and DeJong, who accompanied the team as the athletic director, did not check on wrestlers' rooms during the entire stay, and instead had taken the two free drink vouchers each room received and were in or near the hotel lobby drinking alcohol while the alleged assaults occurred.
By Sunday, coaches were aware of the incidents, the suits said, but did not inform parents, who became aware of the incidents later that day after a parent found video of them on a wrestler's phone. That parent contacted other parents and an assistant coach, who, according to the lawsuit, said he would initiate the reporting process but also said "this could negatively affect the wrestling program."
Hinton School Board accepts wrestling coach's resignation, discusses policies
On Monday, Crawford sent an email to the team at 6:45 a.m. that included the practice schedule and a team dinner, but did not mention the alleged shocking incidents.
That same morning, a mother of one of the wrestlers who had been assaulted went to the school and showed a video of the incident to the guidance counselor, who notified Slater.
At a team meeting that afternoon, the lawsuits said, Crawford yelled at wrestlers about what had happened, specifically with sex toys and stun guns, telling them, "this is how coaches get f-----g fired." He then told them to delete the Snapchat group chat from their phones because it would get him, and them, in trouble.
Crawford and Skuodas were placed on administrative leave, but Crawford was allowed to continue in his teaching position, conducting a homeroom period for one of the victims and teaching two of the other victims in a class.
Coralville police received a call the day after the tournament about a possible assault involving the Hinton wrestlers. Police Chief Shane Kron said in February he could not comment on the case during the investigation and would not release the juveniles' names. Kron did not respond Thursday to voice mail and email inquiries about the status of the investigation.
Team members' behaviors also led to a Hinton police investigation. Police chief James Conway said in February he could not comment on an ongoing investigation. He did not respond Thursday to messages inquiring if the investigation has been completed.
Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond said he was aware of the allegations, but had no comment on any investigations, charges or other matters within juvenile court. In most cases except those involving the most serious crimes, juvenile court files are confidential.
The three students believed to be the perpetrators were suspended for 10 days and did not wrestle in the district meet, preventing them from possibly qualifying for the individual state tournament. The school board ultimately voted 3-1 during a special session to "reassign" two of the three from school.
Skuodas was reinstated to his coaching position after serving two days on administrative leave and coached the team at the state individual wrestling tournament in Des Moines, where team members wore t-shirts saying "Free Crawford."
Crawford resigned his coaching position in March. He did not respond to a text message seeking comment. Skuodas remains on contract through the school year.
DeJong, who also was the middle school principal, submitted his resignation, effective in June, in March. He was not at school Thursday and did not return messages seeking comment.
The parents, who are represented by Des Moines attorneys Alison Kanne and Reuben Neff, said in the lawsuits their sons have suffered mental, physical and emotional distress. They are seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial and punitive damages. The parents' names are listed in court filings, but the Journal is not referring to them by name in order to protect the identities of their sons, who are referred to in the lawsuits only by their initials.
Hinton wrestlers, parents sue coaches, school for alleged assaults and 'sadomasochistic abuse'
Two Hinton wrestlers and their parents have sued the school district, administrators and coaches, saying they enabled a program that was "a breeding ground for harassment and bullying," culminating in incidents in which underclassmen allegedly were assaulted with sex toys and an electric stun gun.
