Prosecutors awaiting KSP investigation in alleged KY high school football hazing

Casey County prosecutors are waiting for results of a Kentucky State Police investigation into allegations of hazing by the McCreary County Central High School football team.

On Wednesday, Casey County Attorney Thomas Weddle Jr. told the Herald-Leader that Weddle and Casey Commonwealths’ Attorney Brian Wright are “waiting on the investigation from Kentucky State Police. We are aware of allegations. We do not have the investigation or any facts sufficient that I can disclose to you at this time.”

Kentucky State Police Trooper Jonathan Houk, the public affairs officer at the Columbia post, has said KSP received the report Aug. 29 of alleged hazing of McCreary County Central football players.

The hazing was alleged to have occurred on or about Aug. 1 in Casey County.

Houk and other officials won’t comment on the hazing allegations or where it may have occurred in Casey County. He said Tuesday he had no new information to release.

John Blevins , an attorney who represents McCreary County Schools, on Wednesday denied a Kentucky Open Records Request for documents related to the hazing, saying records related to students and student discipline are protected by federal law. The Herald-Leader filed the requests.

Blevins told the Herald-Leader on Wednesday: “We have issued the only statement we plan to issue at this time.”

Blevins said previously that district officials could not comment on specific allegations.

However, he said: “I want the community to rest assured that we will use all the powers available to us and report all incidents as required by law to protect our students, and we will thoroughly and promptly address all issues affecting students in our district.”

Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett said Thursday his office is aware of ongoing investigative work by the local school district and local law enforcement, which are the appropriate agencies.

“Had we received a report or received a request for review, which we have not, it would have been referred to those entities. We are aware that both the district and local law enforcement are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to review all aspects of the alleged incident, “said Tackett.

“We also understand that the investigation remains open at this time, and to protect the integrity of the investigation, specific information has not been released to the public or to our office,” Tackett said.

Tackett said there has been no report submitted that would indicate any of the allegations involved KHSAA rules, and as such, it is not in the KHSAA’s jurisdiction at this time.

“School discipline of both students and their employees is under the jurisdiction of the school and school system, as well as local law enforcement authorities, subject to a variety of privacy laws, and unless there is confirmation of a KHSAA rule being violated, our association has no authority in the case,” Tackett said.

Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn said Monday, “We are not investigating it at this time.”

Wright’s staff in the Casey Commonwealths’ Attorney’s office said Wednesday he was not immediately available for comment.

This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM.