Father alleges Delphi HS football players sexually harrassed son

DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) - Police and school officials are investigating an allegation of sexual harassment at Delphi High School.

Robert Sanders' son is a freshman at Delphi High School and a member of the football team. Sanders said three juniors on that team sexually harassed his son.

"My son was leaving practice for the J.V. team at Delphi High, and after he had showered the varsity team came in. He had showered and placed his shorts and shoes on. Some Juniors, three Juniors, caught him in the middle of the aisle-way between two lockers. Two grabbed him from behind, pinned him, held him, restrained him. And another came up behind him in the nude and proceeded to rub his privates all over my son's back," alleged Sanders.

Sanders said his son first came to his mother with the information on the incident. From there the family went to the school, and than to the local police with the complaint.

The Delphi Community School Corporation said they are conducting an ongoing investigation into the alleged incident.

"We decided we would involve the police because we want to protect all parties involved. It's being investigated properly and in the right way. That's important to us because we want to make sure if something did happen it's taken care of," said Barry Stone, Principal at Delphi High School.

The complaint was first voiced to the Athletic Director Dan Dawson at Delphi High School. Stone confirms that the athletic director is related, by marriage, to one of the boys involved in the alleged incident.  Dawson denies being related to anyone involved.

"This has been very hard. My son has been violated in a sexual manner," said Sanders.

Sanders and his son said that the incident is not an isolated one. They said other freshman and sophomore football players had been the victims in similar incidents. The Delphi School Corporation has said there have been no other incidents of this nature to their knowledge.

Police said their investigation is also ongoing, but they can not comment in depth because juveniles are involved in the case.

For the time being Sanders said his son will remain home from school. The family has said they will not send their son back to Delphi Community High School.

Editor's note: Since Sanders' son is a minor, and at the request of his father, his name is not being released.

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