FAIRMONT, Minn. (AP) - A southern Minnesota high school football player admitted in court Monday that he took part in an assault on a teammate that left the other teenager unconscious last fall.
Dalton Nagel, 18, of Blue Earth pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aiding and abetting third-degree assault in the attack on the 16-year-old teammate at a house party in October. His sentencing is set for July 9.
Nagel is one of four Blue Earth Area High School football players, ages 16 to 18, who face felony charges in the beating. Nagel also pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a gross misdemeanor that prosecutors later added.
Nagel admitted holding the boy down while others beat him unconscious, the Star Tribune reported . He also admitted to rubbing his genitals on the victim’s face as another teammate filmed the incident on a cellphone.
The victim later was diagnosed with a concussion, and prosecutors say the teasing from other students became so bad that he left the school.
School district officials suspended the accused players from school and barred them from playing sports. The school sparked controversy by allowing the accused students to play football in state playoffs following the assault. The beating prompted a community task force to examine bullying in Blue Earth schools.
Nagel’s defense attorney, Michael Kircher, declined to comment to The Associated Press on Monday, saying his client “entered his plea and the case is resolved.”
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
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