District Attorney Bryant Dunaway announced Monday that no charges will be filed against the students involved in the Livingston Academy hazing incident.
Dunaway said after reviewing reports and several videos, while the contact was certainly inappropriate between students, no student was physically injured. Dunaway added that the behavior would not rise to the level of a sexual offense.
“The behavior could be characterized as very inappropriate hazing and bullying of other students,” Dunaway said in a statement. “Based on the legal standard for criminal offenses, the behavior would not rise to the level of a sexual offense. The behavior could be considered offensive touching.”
Dunaway said were his office to pursue charges, it would be for touching, not a secual offense.
“Considering all the circumstances, the right thing to do in these particular circumstances is to allow school administrators to impose appropriate discipline for the behavior of the students involved which the school system is prepared to do,” Dunaway said.
Dunaway said in a statement that many rampant rumors on social media need to be dispelled. Dunaway asks that the community refrain from engaging in further rumor and speculation. Dunaway said such rumors are harmful to all of the minors involved, including those who were mistreated by fellow students.
“The student conduct was certainly inappropriate behavior and should not have occurred,” Dunaway said. “The conduct has been described erroneously by some on social media creating rumor.”
Dunaway said the Livingston Police Department interviewed the students and collected evidence. That evidence included several videos made of the hazing incident. School administration conducted a separate investigation, Dunaway said.
Dunaway said he reviewed the videos, the evidence and met with parents before coming to his conclusion.