O.P.H.S. Football Players Charged with Sex Battery Still in Custody | News

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The two Orange Park High School football players arrested for sexual assault will remain in custody until a hearing next week.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said Kiari Nathan Hill and Sherrod Lawson, both 17, are accused of assaulting a female student while hanging out at her home Aug. 25.

Hill is also accused of a second battery on another female student in a vehicle. According to a police report, that attack happened Aug. 24.

Both Hill and Lawson were taken to the Duval County juvenile detention center.

"I tell you just blows your mind," said Jack Hubbard, whose granddaughter attends Orange Park.

Their initial court appearance was scheduled for this morning in Duval County, but it has been moved to Clay County and will be held Wednesday, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Clay County schools spokeswoman Darlene Mahla said the school district is waiting for formal charges to be filed by the State Attorney's Office before taking any disciplinary action.

Mahla said this morning that the students cannot be suspended for an arrest; they have not been charged.

"At this point the district is not in a position to suspend or seek an alternative school placement for the two young men," Mahla said in a statement.

Since the incident did not happen on campus, school personnel do not have a comment.

"A lot of rumors will probably swirl around this school," said Penny Monroe, whose niece is a senior at Orange Park. "These young ladies are going to get a lot of backlash from people they thought were their friends."

Mahla said more information will be released once the State Attorney's Office decided on charges.