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Cheerleaders Go To Court On Hazing Charges

POSTED: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
UPDATED: 5:03 pm CST November 26, 2008

Seven Katy cheerleaders went to court on Wednesday to face hazing charges while one of their alleged victims described what they are accused of doing, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Members of the Morton Ranch High School varsity cheerleaders have been accused of restraining several junior varsity cheerleaders, blindfolding them, binding their hands with duct tape and pushing them into a swimming pool at a cheerleader's home on July 25.

They were charged with misdemeanor criminal hazing.

The indicted cheerleaders include:

  • Kelly Buffa, 17
  • Hannah Cochran, 18
  • Haley Davis, 17
  • Kirsten Davis, 17
  • Adelynn Garner, 18
  • Meigan Goff, 18
  • Madison Tanner, 17

The cheerleaders' cases were reset on Wednesday because the judge was out sick.

Junior varsity cheerleader Laura DeLaCruz was 14 when she said she was hazed. She said after they were thrown in the pool, the varsity cheerleaders took them to the parking lot of a 24 Hour Fitness.

"We were bound by our shoulders and our wrists and blindfolded. And they started throwing water-balloons, hitting us with noodles, spraying our faces with hairspray. One of the girls was talking -- one of the varsity cheerleaders put Silly String in her mouth. And some of the girls started crying. That's when they stopped everything," DeLaCruz said.

DeLaCruz's said she was scared things would get worse.

"If they did this to us now, what are they going to do to us later?" she said.

Her mother hopes to raise awareness about hazing.

"I’m hoping that we can save lives by talking about this," Diane DeLaCruz said.

Diane DeLaCruz said that even though no one was physically hurt, her daughter and others were emotional hurt.

A defense attorney said the cheerleaders are looking forward to getting the case behind them.

"It's just very unfortunate for anybody to have to deal with something like this during the holidays. Fortunately for Haley, she has a good family that's behind her 120 percent and we just hope top get this matter resolved just as soon as possible, so Haley can get on with her education. She's an excellent student and really has some excellent goals in her life. She just wants to move forward," defense attorney Jed Silverman said.

The girls face probation and community service to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine if convicted of the class B misdemeanor charges.

They will be tried as adults.

Harris County District Attorney said these charges are believed to be the first filed in Harris County under the state's anti-hazing law, which was enacted in 1995.

Court Documents:

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