The mother of a former Piedmont football player who was assaulted by teammates in 2019 has filed a civil lawsuit.

Vanessa Chasteen told WEIS Radio News that the lawsuit is filed against the students involved in the alleged assault, Piedmont City School District and football coaches at the high school.

Chasteen said that her son will soon be going back to school for the first time since she pulled him out after the assault and alleged multiple incidents of hazing that took place afterwards.

The complaint filed states that her son was grabbed by the suspects while they forced a car key into the victim’s anal region as part of a team ritual called “keying.”

According to court documents obtained by WEIS Radio following that incident, Chasteen’s son was harassed verbally by students and a coach in the fall of 2020.

Three of the players involved in that alleged incident were charged with misdemeanor third-degree assault.

The defendants in the case include the players involved in the alleged assault, defensive coordinator James Blanchard, head coach Steve Smith and the Piedmont City School District.

The suit claims that the coaches were aware of the practice of “keying” in the program.

WEIS Radio Sports Director Shannon Fagan reached out to Coach Steve Smith, Smith said he and his lawyer would not be giving any statement at this time. The other parties involved have not commented publicly on the matter.

Chasteen says the goal of the civil suit is to hold those in charge accountable.

We’ll have additional information as more becomes available.