Hazing sex assault likely fabricated

A 15-year-old sophomore from Lehi High School who said he was sexually assaulted during a hazing incident at a summer football camp apparently concocted the story.

"Charges were filed in juvenile court for providing false information to law-enforcement officers," Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Paul Jaroscak said Thursday.

No other information about the charge was available Thursday.

In July, football teams from at least two Utah County high schools were at a football camp hosted at Camp Williams. A 15-year-old Lehi player said he was assaulted during the night by multiple people, apparently in retaliation for some hard hitting against some of the seniors during that day's practice.

The incident, however, apparently never happened.

Alpine School District Assistant Superintendent Gary Seastrand said he's both pleased and disappointed with the announcement. He's disappointed a student would make up such a story but pleased that the reputation of the Lehi football team, which had been tarnished by the allegations, can now be restored.

"It has had a negative effect on the football program and the young men who participate in the program. I hope they will be able to move forward," Seastrand said. "Just in the last board meeting we honored a member of the football team for his character and quality. We're grateful that (the allegation) has no substance."

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