A brutal attack at the McDonogh School that police say stemmed from a hazing incident has led to assault charges against two former students -- both sons of the school's heralded football coach.
Michael and John Working, now dismissed from the school, have been charged with beating a fellow student in a school locker room on March 22, according to documents prepared by Baltimore County police.
The students -- sons of Richard Michael "Mike" Working, the McDonogh football coach who turned a lackluster team into a powerhouse -- are charged with assault and battery, according to Steve Tully, their attorney.
Mr. Working's older son, Michael, 18, was charged as an adult; his younger son, John, 16, was charged as a juvenile, said Sgt. Stephen R. Doarnberger, a Baltimore County police spokesman. School officials said both have been dismissed from the 121-year-old private school in Owings Mills, which has 1,190 students in grades K-12.
"It's a very unfortunate situation for everyone involved," said Larry Johnston, vice president at McDonogh. "For Coach Working, for his sons, and for the school. But we investigated the incident thoroughly and did what we felt was in the best interests of all the kids. Now we want to move on."
The victim, Adam Vasilakis, who was a junior at McDonogh, was repeatedly punched in the locker-room assault, court records said. He was grabbed from behind by Michael Working and pushed at running speed into a cement wall, the records said.
The Vasilakis youth fell to the ground in convulsions, bleeding from the mouth, court records said. He later was treated at Howard County General Hospital for a concussion and bruises to his head.
Court papers also said he suffered some memory loss from the blow. His father declined to discuss the incident last night.
Members of the Working family also declined to comment yesterday.
Mr. Tully, the boys' attorney, said he took issue with the allegations reported in the charging documents. After interviewing several witnesses to the incident, he said, "there's a vast difference between what they're saying and what the police are saying" in the court documents.
Police allege that the Working brothers attacked the Vasilakis youth as revenge for a hazing incident in Florida, where the McDonogh baseball team had gone on a spring break trip.
