Former Cheerleaders Face Judge; Possible Jail Time

[Shown is the 2007-2008 Morton Ranch High School Varsity Cheerleading Squad. (names in italics were the young women who were indicted: TOP ROW: Addie Garner (mascot), Jewel Grandberry, Heather Brun, Eve Adame, Kaylee Lauden, Courtney Weisheit, Morgan Engelder, Erin Price (cheer coach) BOTTOM ROW: Hannah Cochran, Hayley Davis, Kelly Buffa, Brooke Borwell, Madison Tanner, Kirsten Davis]

Six former cheerleaders and the former mascot from Katy's Morton Ranch High School made their first court appearances today on hazing charges based on allegations that they pushed junior varsity cheerleaders, bound and blindfolded, into a swimming pool.

Seven former suburban Houston high school varsity cheerleaders face misdemeanor charges accusing them of hazing other cheerleaders. Those FORMER cheerleaders and mascot Adelynn Garner (school mascot), 18, and varsity cheerleaders Kelly Buffa, 17; Hannah Cochran, 18; Halely Davis, 17; Kirsten Davis, 17; Meigan Goff, 18; and Madison Tanner, 17.

Click here to view mug shots of five of the seven FORMER cheerleaders.

Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson hads stated the ex-cheerleaders restrained several junior varsity cheerleaders, blindfolded them, bound their hands and pushed them into a swimming pool in an off-campus hazing incident.

If convicted, the teens face up to six months in jail and a fine of $2,000.

Katy Independent School District police initiated the investigation, which was then referred to the grand jury that issued the indictment.

This is yet another case of a group of privileged prima donnas, who have been “granted” notoriety because of their popularity with other students, doing whatever they choose no matter the pain, embarrassment, and stress said choices inflicted on others.

Every group in school knows that hazing is against the law. These young women knew what they were doing was against their organization’s constitution, school rules and state laws.

Kudos to the Katy ISD for suspending the cheerleading program. Young women such as these will push the rules to the limit and then use their position in school and the community to elude any punishment or consequences.

Too much emphasis is placed on being “on the squad” in junior high and high school. In many cases, once they make said squad, they are viewed as untouchable and can pretty much do whatever they want.

Perhaps if these young women spend some time in jail and their parents are hit with major settlements, after the ensuing civil actions take place, they and others will think twice before they act in a manner to bring grief to others, themselves, their families and their respective organization.

"Why....the fourth class man who is compelled to fight a man from the first class hasn't a show in the world, and it is not intended that he should. I have read the rules provided to prevent such practices, and they are wholly deficient, because one provision is omitted. I would make it the duty of a cadet to report to the authorities any case of hazing which came to his notice; make such reports a part of the vaunted West Point 'code of honor' and the beating of young boys by upper class men will be stopped." - Mark Twain, in an interview for the New York Times, January 20, 1901 on cadet hazing at West Point (United States Military Academy)