Felony charges dropped against teen accused of sexually assaulting teammate
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SHOSHONE — The felony case against a 17-year-old Dietrich High School football player accused of sexually assaulting a teammate was closed Thursday after a judge dismissed the case, according to MagicValley.com.
KMVT reports the paperwork to dismiss the felony charge of forcible penetration by use of a foreign object against Tanner Ward was signed Thursday.
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“We’ve been aware of this in excess of a week,” Mike Wood, Ward’s attorney, reportedly said in court Tuesday. “This is pursuant to plea negotiations. We’re going in that direction. This dismissal is part of that.”
Ward was charged as an adult and he still faces charges in juvenile court.
18-year-old John R.K. Howard is also charged in the alleged locker room sexual assault of a black, mentally disabled teammate. He faces a felony charge of forcible penetration with a foreign object and is accused of kicking a hanger into his teammate’s rectum. He is set to be arraigned next Tuesday.
Another teen is charged as a juvenile and accused of luring the victim into a hug on Oct 22. before Ward and Tanner attacked. The juvenile’s case is completely sealed, while parts of Howard’s and Ward’s cases are sealed.