Three Long Island high schoolers were hit with criminal charges yesterday in a brutal hazing attack at a football training camp in Pennsylvania.
The teens, members of the Mepham High School football team in Bellmore, L.I., were charged in juvenile court with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment and ethnic intimidation and a half-dozen other crimes.

The three boys, ages 16, 16 and 17, had been suspended following allegations they sodomized the younger players with a broomstick, pine cones and golf balls at a camp in late August in Preston Park, Pa.

Wayne County, Pa., prosecutors said they were considering raising the cases to adult court, where the boys could face long prison sentences.

"I realize that this is obviously an important case for the people of Long Island and that there are even national implications," said Wayne County District Attorney Mark Zimmer. "Everyone wants to be assured that something as disturbing as this does not occur again anywhere."

In filing the charges for what he called "unspeakable acts," Zimmer said the grand jury investigation was continuing and others could be charged.

A lawyer for two victims said the accused deserve severe punishment.

"We are hoping that Mr. Zimmer will do everything in his power to ensure that [the suspects] are prosecuted as adults," said lawyer Robert Kelly. "This goes way over any juvenile hazing."

Boosting charges

Among the considerations that will be used to determine an upgrade to treating the boys as adults, said Zimmer, are whether a deadly weapon was used or whether any of the juveniles has a record. He said he would decide Monday.

Sixty players and five coaches attended the late August camp. School officials said the coaches slept in a different cabin from the students and were unaware of any problems until a parent complained to a principal.

None of the three youths has been arrested, but warrants will be issued if they refuse to travel to Pennsylvania to answer the charges.

Under pressure from Zimmer's office, school officials submitted a batch of new documents Wednesday.