Hazed football players settle for $5M

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Robertson High football hazing case is going to cost the Las Vegas City Schools district a fortune, more than $5 million.

The broomstick sodomy case made national headlines; now it's officially over. But News 13 found out the victims and their families said they'll never get over it.

The settlement will be split among seven young men, but the ripple effect this case has had have affected thousands. It's been three years, but for the families it feels like it was just yesterday.

“It just brought so much hurt," said Patricia Vigil whose nephew was assaulted.  "How can somebody do this.”

It happened during training camp out of town. Six football players held down the seven younger teammates and sodomized them with broomsticks. The bullies have all pleaded guilty with some going to juvenile jail.

Last year the victims filed a civil suit listing everyone from coaches and school administrators to the district itself claimng they creating a culture that allowed tyhe hazing to happen.

Earlier this week the district settled and agreed to pay the teens $5.25 million.

“Any monetary amount won't bring back the devastation these families have been through,” said Vigil.

She said her nephew, a senior, still plays football at Robertson.

“He's a heck of a football player," she said.  "He's a good kid, a smart child, a good kid in school.”

She said all of the boys have had their struggles.

“It's devastating, and to hold your head up in a community as small as Las Vegas, to hold your head up and walk, walk the halls of Robertson High School,” said Vigil.

Vigil said the comments and jokes made by rival teams and fans have been one of the worst parts of this ordeal.

So how much of this settlement will the district's insurance cover? A Las Vegas school board member said she couldn't comment on the case.

Vigil said she was disappointed to hear of other hazing cases around the state, including one last fall at Valencia High School in Los Lunas.

Three football players there are accused of holding down a younger teammate last fall and sexually assaulting him. One of the players took a plea deal earlier this week; he could spend three years in jail.