No charges are planned against four adults who admitted bringing cigars and champagne onto Cardinal Mooney High School property Dec. 2 following the team's return from the state championship football game.
The parents involved had to make a public apology on Friday as part of a resolution with the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, which was approved by Youngstown Bishop George V. Murry.
The investigation was conducted by the Youngstown Police Department at the request of the Diocese. At first, the investigation was focused on players smoking cigars after video taken by our station of the post-game celebration showed several players puffing on lit cigars. It was later learned that players had champagne in the locker room.
"There was, I believe, 24 bottles of champagne brought down there. Our investigation determined it was used mainly for celebratory props. They were uncorking them, shaking them up. They sang a fight song from what he understand and they went out to watch fireworks," said Youngstown Police Chief Rod Foley.
Police stress they do not believe the students ended up drinking the alcohol. But they also confirmed some of the adults involved were not very forthcoming in their initial statements, but ultimately had a change of heart after investigators explained the seriousness of the situation.
The Youngstown City Prosecutor's office declined to press criminal charges against the adults and instead deferred to the Diocese to work out an appropriate resolution. The adults agreed to take full responsibility for their actions.
"There is some technical issues of law that we can possibly travel down the road. It's still not finished yet, but we decided as a group that we felt that the diocese could handle this better than we could," Foley said.
And Foley said provided all those involved comply with the Diocese' decisions, no criminal charges will be filed.
As part of the resolution with the Diocese, the adults involved in the incident returned to the school on Friday and delivered an apology at a school assembly to the team, students, faculty and alumni. The adults indicated they "deeply regretted their actions" and were "caught up in the emotion and excitement of the state championship and did not use good judgment."
Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, Superintendent of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, said there was some second-guessing about the Diocese's decision to aggressively pursue the incident by asking for a police investigation.
"Some felt we're making too much of this incident, asking, 'What's the big deal if a senior had a cigar or a sip of champagne?'" said Dr. Wolsonovich. "But student athletes are still students, and they are still in our care. We strongly believe that no adult, no matter how well-meaning, should come on school property and give students tobacco or alcohol under any circumstances."
Mooney students, parents, faculty and alumni have applauded the quick action of the Diocese in calling for an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation.
"What we saw was a real, living, faith-filled community dealing with a situation that was very uncomfortable for us all," Wolsonovich said.
He met with the four parents privately.
"And I thought the parents did a very authentic, sincere and very effective job in communicating their remorse, their regret and their apologies," Wolsonovich said.
The parents also agreed to donate money to the school's anti-drug program and perhaps other community agencies that have anti-tobacco and anti-alcohol programs.
Wolsonovich said what happened shouldn't overshadow the exceptional students and works happening at Cardinal Mooney, and Friday's assembly showcased the student body's strong character.
"You just sit back and say everything we do for Catholic schools is worth it," he said.
John Young, principal of Cardinal Mooney High School, communicated the results of the investigation and the resolution via the Mooney website. In his message, Young writes: "As principal, I take full responsibility for any mistakes that were made. All of us hope to learn and then heal from this situation. I also want to personally thank my staff, the superintendent's office, and the Youngstown Police Department for their cooperation in dealing with this matter. I am grateful to each of you for your thoughts, prayers and advice during this difficult time."
