6 players, 4 coaches charged in Cheltenham High School football hazing incidents
CHELTENHAM, Pa. (WPVI) -- Charges have been filed against 10 people in connection with a Cheltenham High School football hazing incident after a locker room assault.
A grand jury has indicted four coaches, as well as six players, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday. Two 18-year-old football player, as well as four juveniles, are also being charged.
Those coaches include former head football coach Terence Tolbert, 55, of Elkins Park; associate head coach Darian "DJ" McFadden, 42, of Roslyn, Pa.; assistant coach Benjamin Johnson III, 45, of Cheltenham; and volunteer coach Ralph Burnley, 60, of Elkins Park.
The 18-year-old players charged have been identified as Isaiah Simpson and Josiah Peeler.
An investigation was launched after a 15-year-old sophomore football player told Burnley that he had been "jumped" by his teammates in the locker room in September 2025, according to officials.
The criminal charges were filed following the conclusion of a lengthy investigation.
Initially, officials believed the incident was isolated, but while looking into the matter, investigators discovered that there were two separate incidents, including one August 15, 2025, as well as the initial report from September 3, 2025.
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that there were videos that had been circulated of at least one of the incidents, officials described.
In the video, the victim is seen being held down while being poked with a broomstick as other teammates watched.
Investigators said that "approximately 19 students who witnessed the assault made no attempt to stop the event."
At least one person can be heard chanting, "broomstick him," officials say.
The victim said the assault only stopped because the players had to get on a bus.
No coaches were in the locker room at the time of the assault, according to investigators.
After the victim told Burnley of the incident, officials allege that McFadden and Tolbert instructed the victim to not tell his mother because "they would handle it" and did not report it to school administration at that time.
The victim's mother learned about the assault from a friend four days later and took him to a doctor for his injuries to his genitals.
The school district says they didn't learn about the incident until a week later, prompting district officials to end the 2025 football season early, as well as launch an external investigation.
A report about the investigation found insufficient supervision of locker rooms by coaches and a failure to prioritize student safety, prompting an overhaul of the football program.
The decision came just two hours before the team was scheduled to play its senior night game, sparking strong feelings from the community.
"These assaults on a football player were not the typical goofing around by teammates. These were crimes," said DA Steele. "Numerous witnesses, many reluctant to share what they saw and knew, testified about what occurred in the Cheltenham High School locker room on these two occasions and testified about actions taken by some of the football coaches after the assaults. After carefully considering all of the testimony and evidence, including reviewing the recovered videos of one of the assaults, the Grand Jury recommended charges against the four juveniles, two other football players and four coaches."
The coaches are being charged with endangering the welfare of children, conspiracy to commit endangering the welfare of children.
Simpson, who was also allegedly a participant in the assault, is facing conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful restraint, and false imprisonment.
Peeler is accused of lying to law enforcement about the incident.
The juvenile teens are facing hazing, perjury and tampering with evidence charges.
