Photo via MassillonProud.comEven before Ohio State officially withdrew their scholarship offer to Massillon's DeVoe Torrence, speculation was rampant as to whether or not he might be in some legal hot water.
It appears there might be some legs to those rumors according to a Gus Garcia-Roberts story referenced by the fine folks at DeathRattleSports.
The story cites numerous rumors but does contain this bone chilling statement:
Police have been reticent to offer their own narrative. All they'll say is that over a several-month period, at least 14 boys — ranging in age from 14 to 21 — were suspected of having sex with three young girls, the oldest of whom was only 14.
Additionally, the Massillon Independent reported back in November that police were investigating a sex ring involving girls as young as 11 and that four of the people being investigated were athletes.
The story does not mention Torrence by name nor does it suggest his involvement but it does seem a bit curious that his scholarship was pulled as rumors of possible legal trouble continue to spread.
Even without any names dropped, it appears there is some fire to go with this smoke as Garcia-Roberts notes Assistant Chief Prosecutor Chryssa Hartnett confirmed indictments will come at some point in time.
I hope for DeVoe Torrence's sake, he was not involved. Either way, it looks like a real possibility that the town of Massillon and its storied football program could be rocked to the core.
Comments
"the oldest of whom was 14"?? holy smokes, I've been kinda-following this story for a while, but didn't know the age disparity was that outrageous.
Same here...rumors have been all over the place for awhile but to read the age range and the statement from the asst prosecutor that indictments will likely come at some point is absolute craziness..
Yikes, I hope the kid isn't involved, or gets his life straight. Did an interview with MGoBlog about Terrelle Pryor you should check out.
That article was full of choice quotes, but none finer than this one from a Massillon bartender:
""Those girls are a couple of little wildcats. You tell me what you would do if you were 16, and a 12-year-old whore like that was throwing herself at you . . ."
I read somewhere that this is the first time in like 15 years that we haven't had a recruit from the greater Canton area. If true, it's too bad. I remember in Junior High (mid/late 90s) how important Canton was still to high school football. It seems as though the power shift to Cincinnati has all but completed...
[...] misconduct after being accused of doin’ the dirty with a 6th grader last November. As we discussed in February, the accusations cost Torrence a scholarship offer from [...]