Local News

R.I. school cancels rest of football season after players charged with assaulting special needs student

Newport School Committee plans to take up the issue at the next meeting.

November 25, 2025

2 minutes to read

Newport police have charged four teenagers in connection with the assault of a student with special needs at Rogers High School.

Police say they arrested a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old on Monday, charging both with assault. Officers also arrested and charged a 16-year-old on Saturday, and, on Friday, charged another 16-year-old who allegedly assaulted the victim twice.

The suspects are members of the school’s football team, according to Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain. The incident led school officials to end the school’s football season.

In a release, the police say they became aware of the incident on Friday, Nov. 21, when they saw several cell phone recordings of the assault that allegedly occurred in the men’s locker room at Rogers High School.

The video, WCVB reports, shows a “boy on his knees in prayer position while another boy stands over him with a strap, repeatedly whipping him and demanding an apology. Another student is seen hitting the victim with a belt, while other students laugh and fail to intervene.”

“The Newport Police Department emphasizes that bullying will not be tolerated or condoned in our community,” the release said. “All such acts will be investigated to the fullest extent.”

In a subsequent release, the Newport Police Department said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Jermain shared a statement with WCVB stating that the district became aware of a video showing “unacceptable student behavior” in the boys’ locker room on Thursday evening.

“It has been brought to our attention that before football games, there is somewhat of a practice that includes ‘roughhousing’ and players hitting each other,” Jermain said in the statement to WCVB.

The Newport School Committee plans to meet in executive session on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

In a release shared with Boston.com, the committee says it will discuss hiring an independent, third-party investigator to conduct a comprehensive review of the matter.

“As a Committee, our primary goal has always been to ensure a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment,” said School Committee Chair James Dring, in a statement. “However, in order to restore trust and fully understand the scope of the issues at hand, I believe that we must move swiftly to appoint an independent entity to examine these reports as thoroughly and transparently as possible.”

If approved, the School Committee’s investigation will proceed alongside the ongoing criminal investigation led by the Newport Police Department.

The School Committee’s investigation will also provide a comprehensive review of general school-related policies, procedures, and institutional response to find any underlying issues.

“I believe this level of comprehensive review is essential to uncover the facts and ensure the necessary changes are implemented to protect all students in Newport’s schools,” said Mayor Charles Holder in a statement.

Additional information will be shared following the conclusion of Wednesday’s executive session.