BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – The Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office has drafted juvenile petitions against “multiple” male members of the Greenbrier West High School wrestling team.
Both the sheriff’s office and the prosecuting attorney’s office are investigating the incident. It is in connection to an incident that occurred at a Beckley hotel during a tournament in late February. All the petitions are against male juveniles.
Sheriff Jim Canaday said that the matter is extremely serious.
Both Canaday and Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield confirmed that no Greenbrier West teachers or coaches are being charged in Raleigh County.
Canaday said teachers are only involved in the investigation “in the periphery,” since it was a school event. He said no teachers were directly involved.
Hatfield confirmed that there is no evidence that school staff members were not directly involved in the incident or aware that it happened at the time, and no charges are justified against staff.
Greenbrier West’s public resource office contacted the Raleigh County Sheriff’s office to report the incident.
This is the second investigation linked to Greenbrier West that has been announced this week.
Earlier, reports were made of racial harassment at the school. Racial slurs targeting a student were allegedly found on a classroom wall.
Greenbrier West Principal Adam Young and school district supervisor Jeffrey Bryant officially announced that they would step down in a special county school board meeting yesterday.
Bryant is set to retire on March 29. Young will resign. That takes effect on June 30.
There has been no official confirmation that the two men’s decision to step down is connected to either investigation.
Brandy Lawrence and Jillian Risberg contributed to the reporting in this story.
NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that petitions had already been filed. At the time the article was published, petitions were still being considered.
