WARREN, Mich. – The last adult defendant in the Warren De La Salle football hazing assault case appeared in front of a judge Tuesday, so all five students being charged as adults have now been arraigned.
Cleveland Harville III, 18, was arraigned Tuesday morning in connection with the alleged hazing incident at a team dinner last year.
Ricky Pearson, Sean Bonery, Galiko Lovelace and Michael Young were arraigned Monday. All five players received $1,000 bond, as well as instructions not to have contact with victims.
A pre-trial hearing will be scheduled in the same courthouse, likely for next month. But during arraignments, every defense attorney noted that the defendants in the case are all African-American.
“It’s my contention that there’s a police report that’s 99 pages long that has a lot of names in it,” attorney Paul Addis said. “I just find it amazing that only seven are charged, and they’re all African-American.”
One attorney said a lawsuit would be filed.
“I think, quite honestly, within the next 30 days, my client will demonstrate to this court that he was not a participant in any of the assaultive behavior or allegations that are existing in the criminal proceedings and will thereafter pursue a civil remedy," attorney Greg Rohl said.
A civil suit against De La Salle High School is already in the works. It claims there was racial discrimination because the only students suspended were African-American despite claims that there was also a white student involved in the hazing.
Two juveniles will be charged as minors in the case.