East player arrested after playing in game while on house arrest

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An East High School student was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly playing in a junior varsity basketball game against Ursuline while under house arrest.

The unidentified 16-year-old student was originally arrested on a rape charge and released from custody on Dec. 17 with a GPS monitoring device, according to The Vindicator’s broadcast news partner WFMJ.

The teenager was spotted on the court against Ursuline while wearing the device on Tuesday night.

The television station reported Wednesday night that an official with the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center said the student was permitted to leave home to attend classes, but other school-related activities had to be approved.

Youngstown City School District spokeswoman Denise Dick issued the following statement to The Vindicator on Wednesday night:

“No one in either the East or the YCSD administration were informed of any court-ordered restrictions involving this young man,” the statement read. “Any time we would be made aware of any court-ordered restriction, obviously, we would abide by them.”

YCSD athletic director Rich Shepas was contacted on Wednesday night and said he had been traveling and could not comment on the situation. Shepas deferred comment to East High principal Jeremy Batchelor, who could not be reached late Wednesday.

WFMJ reported that a school official believed the sporting event was still a school activity and that the player was able to participate, but that MCJCC officials do not agree.

The station reported that a hearing on the apparent violation is scheduled for today at 11:30 a.m. at the MCJJC.