Pierce: SBI taking lead on criminal investigation into CBA football players

An alleged hazing incident that victims and witnesses say resulted in sexual crimes committed by a handful of Charles B. Aycock football players against younger members of the team is now officially a criminal investigation.

And Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce told New Old North that his office is not the only law enforcement agency probing the incident that allegedly unfolded inside the CBA locker room earlier this month.

The State Bureau of Investigation is joining the fray, too — and will, according to the sheriff, take “the lead.”

“The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is aware of the allegations of misconduct at Charles B. Aycock, and we are working through the process to ensure a full investigation is completed. We have requested the State Bureau of Investigation to come in for this investigation to have a third party take the lead on the investigation,” Pierce said. “While we can’t comment on any active investigation, we want residents to know that we are working behind the scenes to find out exactly what happened and if any charges will be filed.”

More about the investigation, the potential criminal charges that could be filed given what witnesses and victims say unfolded in the CBA locker room, and law enforcement’s ability, under North Carolina law, to charge the alleged perpetrators as adults should they determine crimes took place, will appear in the Sept. 27 edition of our newspaper, Wayne Week.