Past Hazing Incident Held Admissible at Trial

The St. Amant community will be closely watching the trial of St. Amant High School Football Coach David Swacker, which is set to begin on July 19. Coach Swacker was charged with failure to report abuse and neglect, a misdemeanor, in connection with the alleged hazing of then-sophomore Jake Savoy. Trial preparations are underway and The Times-Picayune reports that ad-hoc Judge A.J.Kling of the 23rd JDC has ruled that one of two prior hazing incidents can be admitted at trial.

The alleged hazing victim is the son of Ascension Parish councilman Jerry Savoy, who represents St. Amant as part of his constituency. Savoy's wife, Karen, has since formed a national organization--Mothers Against School Hazing (MASH)-- to combat hazing abuses. The Advocate has reported on her efforts here. The Savoy's have also filed a civil suit naming Coach Swacker and the Ascension Parish School Board as defendants.

Posted by AJR at June 28, 2004 03:37 PM