Walker Middle rape suspect withdraws from Jesuit High

A teenager charged with sexually assaulting a student at Walker Middle School has withdrawn from a private Catholic high school where he enrolled for fall.

This morning, TBO.com posted a story saying Jesuit High School had accepted Lee Myers as an incoming freshman and he was already working out with the football team.

By midmorning, Myers' parents came to the school and withdrew their son from the school, said the Rev. Richard Hermes, the school's president.

The school heard from about two dozen parents, evenly split between those concerned about the school accepting Myers and others who supported the decision, Hermes said.

Hermes drafted a letter to parents stating that Myers wouldn't be attending the school, but defending the school's decision to admit him.

"It was completely their decision, made for personal reasons, and knowing full well that we stood by our decision to admit Lee into Jesuit," Hermes wrote to parents.

Myers' parents could not be reached for comment.

At least one parent was glad Myers won't be attending, but questioned the administration's judgment.

"I was mortified," said Lorraine Collins, whose daughter will be an incoming freshman at Academy of the Holy Names.

Even if Myers is found to be not guilty of sexual assault, his admission that he was involved in bullying the victim should have disqualified him, she said.

Students from the all-boys Jesuit High have held dances with students from Holy Names high, an all-girls school.

"If I wanted my daughter to go to dances with this element, I wouldn't be paying college-level tuition," said Collins, whose older daughter just graduated from Holy Names.

The school accepted Myers early this year, but reconsidered the decision after he was charged with sexually assaulting a fellow member of Walker's flag-football team.

"After the allegations broke, it led us to a lot of prayer, thought and meetings with the family," Hermes said late Wednesday. "We decided to let the offer of admission stand."

Jesuit's administration reached its decision in the middle of last week after a final meeting with Myers and his family, Hermes said.

The school is a Catholic and Jesuit institution, and part of that mission "is to protect and defend the rights of others, even when that's difficult," Hermes said. "We stand by somebody in trouble."

Myers, 14, Raymond A. Price-Murray, 14, Randall John Moye, 14, and Diemante Roberts, 15, have been charged as adults. Each faces four counts of sexual battery and has pleaded not guilty.

In court documents released Tuesday, the victim told authorities he was assaulted on up to 12 occasions. He said some teammates held him down while others sexually assaulted him with a hockey stick and a broomstick.

On Wednesday, a judge relaxed Myers' curfew until the trial. He must now be inside his home by 9 p.m., two hours later than the original 7 p.m. restriction.

Myers admitted to one, brief incident "of horseplay," but maintained he had no role in any sexual assault, Hermes said.

"This seems like a tragedy from many points of view," Hermes said. "[Myers] is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence."

It's not known whether Myers could continue at a public high school.

Hillsborough County school officials don't discuss student disciplinary actions because of confidentiality laws.

Typically, Myers' case would warrant a 10-day suspension, said school spokesman Steve Hegarty. At that point, he became eligible for a hearing to discuss options. Those options include alternative schools, home schools, moving to another school and expulsion. Parents may choose private school as an option, too.

Myers' family has a long history at Jesuit. His father is an alumnus, and his brother graduated from the school last year, Hermes said.

Myers' family has been a regular contributor to the school over the years, such as donating at annual fundraisers, Hermes said.

The president dismissed any notion that the family's giving caused the administration to look past the charges. Myers' family stopped giving once the charges came to light, Hermes said.

Myers' admission wasn't the result of a school scraping to fill seats, he said. Hermes described enrollment as larger than usual this year. Tuition is $11,600.

"We know the family," Hermes said. "That gave us additional confidence."

An earlier version of this story did not include the latest developments.