Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case
Investigators concluded a criminal incident occurred on the girls soccer team but cited limited evidence and uncooperative participants.
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office will not file criminal charges against six high school athletes identified in an off-campus hazing incident involving the Olentangy Orange High School girls soccer team, authorities confirmed. Twelve younger varsity players were restrained, blindfolded, and force-fed food during the early morning hours of August 11, drawing scrutiny from local law enforcement and school administrators.
Although sheriff's investigators determined that a criminal incident occurred involving the Lewis Center team, prosecutors and detectives ultimately decided against filing formal charges, citing a lack of evidence and insufficient cooperation from individuals involved. During the probe, authorities identified six suspects and 12 victims, and noted that video recordings capturing portions of the hazing had been shared online.
The August 11 Incident
According to local media accounts and investigative findings, the incident began during the early morning hours of August 11, when senior varsity players drove to the residences of younger teammates.
Once at the homes, senior players directed younger teammates to wear adult-sized diapers, including on their heads, and restrained them by zip-tying their wrists and wrapping their arms to their chests with plastic wrap. The younger athletes also wore goggles taped over their eyes with duct tape, were sprayed with shaving cream, glitter, and silly string, were subjected to sexually explicit questions, and were force-fed raw hot dogs and sardines.
Disciplinary Scrutiny and District Response
The revelations sparked frustration among families in the southern Delaware County school district. Following an informational meeting convened by school administrators on September 28, local parents expressed anger over reports that senior athletes initially faced only one-game suspensions for their conduct.
Olentangy Local School District officials said the district cooperated fully with sheriff's investigators and emphasized that administrators treat hazing allegations seriously. School leaders stated that while the district held the informational meeting to update families and outline disciplinary standards, federal and state student privacy regulations prevent public disclosure of specific disciplinary records.
District officials announced that they remain dedicated to communicating directly with affected families about outcomes while maintaining a safe environment, adding that the district does not tolerate conduct that compromises student dignity, safety, or well-being.
Legal Framework Under Collin's Law
The Delaware County investigation unfolded under heightened statutory standards established by Collin's Law, Ohio's anti-hazing statute passed as Senate Bill 126 in October 2021. The law elevated general criminal hazing from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree misdemeanor, creating penalties that include jail sentences and fines.
In addition to elevating baseline hazing penalties, Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.31 stipulates that school teachers, administrators, and staff who fail to report hazing incidents that cause physical harm face criminal penalties escalating to a first-degree misdemeanor.
While the Delaware County Sheriff's Office has closed its criminal file without prosecution, questions linger within the Lewis Center community regarding future district disciplinary measures and potential athletic oversight from the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
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Twelve younger varsity players were restrained, blindfolded, and force-fed food during the early morning hours of August 11, drawing scrutiny from local law enforcement and school administrators.
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Twelve younger players on the Olentangy Orange High School girls soccer team were zip-tied, blindfolded with duct-taped goggles and force-fed raw hot dogs and sardines during a hazing incident in the early morning hours of August 11, according to reports, and now the Delaware County Sheriff's Office says no criminal charges will be filed against the six identified suspects.
Although sheriff's investigators determined that a criminal incident occurred involving the Lewis Center team, prosecutors and detectives ultimately decided against filing formal charges, citing a lack of evidence and insufficient cooperation from individuals involved.
Read supporting passage
The sheriff's office determined a criminal incident occurred involving the Lewis Center team but ultimately decided against filing charges, citing a lack of evidence and insufficient cooperation from those involved, according to the Columbus Dispatch, as reported by Cleveland.com.
During the probe, authorities identified six suspects and 12 victims, and noted that video recordings capturing portions of the hazing had been shared online.
Read supporting passage
Investigators had identified six suspects and 12 victims, and videos of the hazing were posted online, per that same account.
According to local media accounts and investigative findings, the incident began during the early morning hours of August 11, when senior varsity players drove to the residences of younger teammates.
Read supporting passage
The incident reportedly began when senior varsity team members drove to the homes of younger varsity members during the early morning hours on August 11.
The younger athletes also wore goggles taped over their eyes with duct tape, were sprayed with shaving cream, glitter, and silly string, were subjected to sexually explicit questions, and were force-fed raw hot dogs and sardines.
Read supporting passage
Once there, the younger players were allegedly told to wear adult-sized diapers, including on their heads, and had their wrists zip-tied and their arms bound to their chests with plastic wrap, the Dispatch reported. They also wore goggles with duct tape over their eyes, were sprayed with shaving cream, silly string and glitter, and were asked sexually explicit questions, according to the same account. The younger players were reportedly force-fed raw hot dogs and sardines during the ordeal.
Following an informational meeting convened by school administrators on September 28, local parents expressed anger over reports that senior athletes initially faced only one-game suspensions for their conduct.
Read supporting passage
Following an informational meeting the district held for parents on September 28, local parents expressed outrage, alleging that senior players involved in the hazing were initially given brief one-game suspensions, the station reported.
School leaders stated that while the district held the informational meeting to update families and outline disciplinary standards, federal and state student privacy regulations prevent public disclosure of specific disciplinary records.
Read supporting passage
Olentangy Local Schools has said it cooperated with investigators and takes hazing incidents seriously, per ABC 6's reporting. The district held the meeting to brief parents and discuss possible consequences, but it will not release details about the students involved, citing student privacy.
District officials announced that they remain dedicated to communicating directly with affected families about outcomes while maintaining a safe environment, adding that the district does not tolerate conduct that compromises student dignity, safety, or well-being.
Read supporting passage
District officials have said they remain committed to communicating directly with involved students and families about the outcome and to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students, adding that Olentangy Local Schools does not tolerate conduct that compromises student safety, dignity or well-being.
The law elevated general criminal hazing from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree misdemeanor, creating penalties that include jail sentences and fines.
Read supporting passage
Ohio's Collin's Law, enacted in October 2021 as Senate Bill 126, elevated general criminal hazing from a fourth-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by jail time and fines, according to StopHazing.
In addition to elevating baseline hazing penalties, Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.31 stipulates that school teachers, administrators, and staff who fail to report hazing incidents that cause physical harm face criminal penalties escalating to a first-degree misdemeanor.
Read supporting passage
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.31, school administrators, teachers and employees who fail to report a hazing offense involving physical harm can face criminal charges up to a first-degree misdemeanor, according to Reminger.
While the Delaware County Sheriff's Office has closed its criminal file without prosecution, questions linger within the Lewis Center community regarding future district disciplinary measures and potential athletic oversight from the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
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For now, the criminal case in Delaware County remains closed without charges. Whether the district pursues further discipline, or whether OHSAA scrutinizes the team's playing record, remains an open question for the Lewis Center community.