Police add Hamilton athletic director to list of recommended hazing charges

PHOENIX — Police have recommended charges against another Hamilton High School employee in a football hazing case, it was announced Thursday.

The Chandler Police Department said it recommended Shawn Rustad, the school’s assistant principal and athletic director, be charged for failing to report child abuse by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The crime is a felony.

Police said Rustad allegedly received an anonymous call in January that claimed football players were being “picked on and harassed” in the locker room.

Rustad allegedly spoke with at least four students in his investigation and did not notify their parents. Police said students told Rustad they were held down and had their clothes removed, had their pants pulled down or were harassed in other ways.

Police alleged the crimes were perpetrated by multiple members of the football team upon freshman players.

At one point, Rustad allegedly asked a student if he had been sexually violated.

Police said Rustad discussed the incidents with head football coach Steve Belles at the direction of principal Ken James. Belles allegedly told players “don’t do sexual things to each other” and other similar messages after meeting with Rustad.

Charges were recommended against Belles and James earlier this week.

Police said a notebook was found in James’ office that contained details of at least one meeting with a player and his parents where hazing was discussed.

Police said Rustad and James did not inform them of the incidents.

Belles was placed on paid leave during the police investigation.

Six players were arrested after the hazing allegations surfaced in late March but only three were charged by police.

One 17-year-old has been charged as an adult with sexual assault, kidnapping and aggravated assault. Two 16-year-olds were charged as juveniles with kidnapping, aggravated assault and assault.

Maricopa County Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Amanda Jacinto had previously said prosecutors asked the court to consider charging the 16-year-olds as adults.

The crimes were allegedly committed between September 2016 and January 2017 on school grounds, but police said they first learned of them in February.

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