Cheltenham High School football coaches, players charged in locker room assaults
Cheltenham High School football coaches, players charged in locker room assaults
Four coaches and six players from Cheltenham High School have been charged after a grand jury found that violent assaults, not just horseplay, took place in the football locker room on two separate occasions in August and September 2025.
CHELTENHAM, Pa. - Four Cheltenham High School football coaches and six players have been charged in connection with two separate locker room assaults on a 15-year-old teammate in August and September 2025, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Cheltenham Township Acting Police Chief Richard Schaffer.
Coaches and players charged after locker room assaults
What we know:
Former head coach Terence Tolbert, associate head coach Darian "DJ" McFadden, assistant coach Benjamin Johnson III and volunteer coach Ralph Burnley are each charged with endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy, according to the District Attorney.
Player Isaiah Simpson, 18, is charged with aggravated assault and Josia Peeler is charged with false swearing to police. Four other juvenile players were also charged.
Cheltenham football hazing investigation: DA announces charges against coaches, players
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office has announced charges against players and coaches following a lengthy investigation into hazing allegations among Cheltenham High School's football team. The charges stem from two alleged assaults that happened in the locker room and led to the eventual cancellation of two football seasons.
Three of the four coaches had their preliminary arraignment and were released on $5,000 unsecured bail.
The Grand Jury found that on August 15, 2025, and September 3, 2025, multiple football players restrained and assaulted a sophomore player, including poking him with a broomstick and kicking and stomping him while he was wearing football gear. The first incident was recorded and shared among students before being deleted. No coaches were present during the assaults.
The Grand Jury’s investigation revealed that after learning about the September 3, 2025, assault, the coaches discussed handling the matter within the team instead of reporting it to the victim’s mother or school administrators. The victim’s mother only learned about the assault days later and took her son for medical care, where he was found to have a contusion.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Cheltenham High School will 'overhaul' football program after locker room hazing incident
Cheltenham High School suspended and then canceled the football season in October 2025 after learning about the allegations through an anonymous tip.
Cheltenham High School cancels 2026 football season
Cheltenham High School has canceled the 2026 varsity and junior varsity football seasons, as the fallout from a locker room hazing incident continues.
What they're saying:
"These assaults on a football player were not the typical goofing around by teammates. These were crimes," said District Attorney Steele.
"Numerous witnesses, many reluctant to share what they saw and knew, testified about what occurred in the Cheltenham High School locker room on these two occasions and testified about actions taken by some of the football coaches after the assaults."
Prosecutors say that after the boy reported the abuse to coaches, messages between the coaches showed a cover-up. Steele said, "This has to be handled and kept quiet. It’s just like hazing. I’m telling you if this gets out they could put the whole team in jeopardy."
The 15-year-old victim has since transferred out of Cheltenham, but prosecutors say the trauma remains. Steele said, "he’s had a rough go. He’s had a rough go."
The Cheltenham School District sent out the following letter to those in the community:
The other side:
An attorney for assistant coach Benjamin Johnson told FOX 29 his client cooperated and was told he would not be prosecuted.
"He has a given several statements to Title 9 investigators and solicitors and we are shocked to find out that after months and months of cooperation he is blindsided by an allegation without any forwarning to him or his counsel or his family because he absolutely has nothing to do with any wrongdoing," said the attorney.
What we don't know:
It is not yet clear if the Cheltenham School District will make a public statement or what additional steps will be taken to address the situation. The status of the remaining coach’s arraignment has not been confirmed.