Upland High School baseball team faces bullying allegations, family records claim

UPLAND, Calif. (KABC) – A family files a lawsuit after a video was released allegedly showing a hazing incident by members of the Upland High School baseball team.

The graphic video was viewed by dozens of students at the school after it was shared by members of the school’s baseball team.

The victim: a 15-year-old junior player.

“In the video, he is choked so hard that he can barely breathe. And while he is lying on the ground and being photographed and mocked, they pretend to sexually abuse him and other members of the varsity team,” said attorney Elan Zektser.

Zektser provided the video to Eyewitness News. He represents the teen’s family, who have filed suit against the school district and the baseball coach.

“The district and the coaches knew what was going on at the school, namely that there was severe bullying, assault and sexual assault in the varsity locker room,” Zektser said.

A divide was created by a culture in which only varsity players were allowed access to the locker rooms, while younger players had to use the dugouts, Zektser said.

The incident occurred in February, but the victim’s family did not learn about the video until April.

“I was devastated, of course. As a parent, you never want to hear something like that. And then to find out that the school already knew about it and didn’t even tell me – that was heartbreaking,” said the victim’s mother, Priscilla Villanueva.

In response to Eyewitness News, the Upland Unified School District released a statement that reads in part:

“The district has launched an internal investigation into the alleged incident involving physical misconduct by players on the UHS baseball team.”

Villanueva said she has since withdrawn her son from school for fear of retaliation.

“My son loves baseball. He’s been playing since he was six years old. This is his passion, this is his outlet. This is what he loves,” Villanueva told Eyewitness News.

“It was literally taken away from him overnight,” she added.

The school district said it could not comment on the victim’s statement due to confidentiality reasons. It also said it was concerned about the safety of students.