Adults charged in Robertson High hazing

LAS VEGAS, N. M. (KRQE) - The sexual-hazing prosecution of high school football players snared five adults including the district superintendent Monday who stand accused of failing to report the assaults.

The five face one misdemeanor count each of failure to report child abuse or neglect, according to a statement released by District Attorney Richard Flores.

Named in the charges are Las Vegas City Schools Superintendent Richard Romero, athletic director Michael Yara, former Robertson High School Head Coach Ray Woods and assistant coaches Adam Alvarez and Ikaika Neizman. They are accused of failing to report sexual assaults on younger players during an out-of-town, pre-season football camp in August.

Six students were later charged with felonies in the alleged assaults that including sodomize some of the younger students with a broomstick.

"I cannot ignore what I believe the facts to be and that is that these defendants failed to notify law enforcement when they were privy to certain facts," Flores said in his statement.   School officials had a legal duty to go to the police, he added.

Court testimony from a victim in the case in January described an attack by six upper classmen. The victim claimed the coaches walked in during one of the assaults and later laughed about it to the entire team.

Woods'  attorney told KRQE News 13 over the phone the charge against his client is a "ridiculous rush to judgment."

One of the accused teens, Jarek Padilla, pleaded guilty to rape and conspiracy and was sentenced to nine months in a juvenile lockup. Padilla's plea deal included an agreement that he would be sentenced as a juvenile.

Santiago Armijo pleaded no-contest to the charges against him and has yet to be sentenced.

The other four are awaiting trial.

Reports of the hazing reached Las Vegas before the team buses, and New Mexico State Police were waiting in the parking lot. The Robertson coaches resigned soon thereafter.

However the incident at the fall football camp was never far from the mind of Flores who turned prosecution of the teens over to a neighboring jurisdiction to avoid conflicts of interest within his office.

"Nothing really surprises me at this point for the year we've had," school board President Phillip Vigil said.

Yet while Vigil said he wants everyone to move on, the hazing case still clearly remains the talk of the town.

"People are taking it seriously, but they turn around and they just joke about it," Las Vegas resident Crystal Marquez said. "It's showing that there is justice that's being done, and I'm actually glad that they are doing something about it."

"They (school officials) should be reprimanded," added resident Larry Cordova who said he also believes the students shouldn't face any jail time.