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 players, as well as four juveniles, are among those 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.
"There has been reluctance by most parties, adults and juveniles, to tell what they knew, what they saw, what they heard, that day in the locker room," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said at a news conference.
Initially, officials believed the incident was isolated, but while looking into the matter, investigators discovered that there were two separate incidents, including one on 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.
"The juvenile victim described the incident as being punched, kicked in the head and the groin with cleats, forcing him to curl up to protect himself and his head," Steele said.
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 also said the players assaulting him were trying to poke him in the butt with the broomstick," Steele said. "He said the broomstick did not go in but made contact with his butt cheek area over his shorts."
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 not to 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 grand jury also criticized the school district's investigation of the incidents, describing it as deeply flawed. In its report, the grand jury stated: "This level of incompetence didn't just fail one child - it put every young man on the football team at risk."
The district attorney said the victim has struggled in the aftermath.
"He's had a rough go. He's had a rough go," Steele said.
A second grand jury report recommends changes to state law that would classify child-on-child hazing as a form of child abuse.
"If other people aren't going to support a victim in this, we are," Steele said.
The 2025 football season was canceled after the assault was first reported. The 2026 season has also been canceled.
An earlier 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 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.
All of the players and coaches facing charges have either turned themselves in or are making arrangements to do so, according to the district attorney's office. None of the coaches are still employed at the school.
In a statement on Wednesday, Neumann-Goretti High School announced the firing of Benjamin Johnson, who was hired as the head coach in January.
"Prior to being hired by our school, Mr. Johnson underwent criminal background checks and obtained child abuse clearances, as is standard with all hires," said President Tim Cairy in a statement to parents. "During his short time with our program, no complaints of any kind were filed against Mr. Johnson in conjunction with his responsibilities at our school.
Cheltenham's superintendent issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon, reading:
Cheltenham Community -
Today, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced charges against individuals for committing crimes within our football program.
Cheltenham School District's thoughts remain with the victim and their family. No student should ever experience violence or fear in a school-related setting. While no legal outcome can erase the harm that was experienced, we appreciate that after nearly a year, charges have been announced and those responsible are being held accountable through the criminal justice system.
Throughout this highly sensitive investigation, the district's guiding priority was, and remains, the safety and well-being of every student. Every report brought to the district's attention was addressed based on the information available at the time. As the full facts were being investigated, the district made decisions to suspend the 2025-2026 football program and later cancel the upcoming 2026-2027 football season. The district also separated from every member of its football coaching staff. These decisions were not made lightly; rather, they reflected the district's commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of students while investigations unfolded. Throughout this time, the district also cooperated with law enforcement and made the appropriate referrals to law enforcement and ChildLine.
The findings of the grand jury, statements by the district attorney and significant time taken to conclude the grand jury investigation reflect what the district has known for some time and what has made addressing this situation challenging; individuals did not cooperate with the investigative process. Fortunately, the tools law enforcement and the grand jury has, like the ability to issue search warrants and compel sworn testimony, brought information to light and allowed the district attorney to hold those responsible through the filing of criminal charges.
The district supports the recommendation to expand the Child Protective Services law to include hazing as a mandatory reportable offense for school officials. However, the district encourages state officials to consider whether this change goes far enough, since "hazing" requires a finding that the conduct was committed "for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student's membership or status in an organization," as defined by 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. 2802(a) which is not always immediately recognizable in reports of student-on-student assaults. We look forward to working with our local elected officials - State Senator Art Haywood and State Representative Napoleon Nelson - to push for these reforms as they have always been advocates for our students and their safety and wellbeing.
As the new school year approaches, please know that we are committed to the safety and well-being of every student. During the remaining weeks of the summer, we will continue to review, strengthen, and reinforce our safety protocols and operational procedures to ensure our schools are prepared to provide a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment for all students.
Respectfully,
Dr. Brian W. Scriven
Superintendent of Schools
