A 15-year-old football player at Concord's De La Salle High School is accused of sexually assaulting a female student from neighboring Carondelet High School, police said.
The reported sexual assault happened on the De La Salle campus, a Catholic school recognized for its storied football program, after a varsity football game on Nov. 18, the Concord Police Department said. Police were notified of the report three days later and arrested the student-athlete Tuesday night.
The suspect was a member of the school's freshman football squad this fall. The victim has also been identified as a freshman.
Police are currently combing through De La Salle's campus surveillance footage in attempts to unearth any potential evidence. Authorities are also asking anyone with information to come forward.
Jennifer Ortega, a spokesperson from Carondelet, issued a statement Tuesday.
"We are aware of the allegations," she said. "They came to us last week. We immediately contacted the Concord Police Department and we are cooperating fully with their investigation. Out of privacy for the student and out of respect for the investigation, we don't have a further comment at this point."
Carondelet Principal Kevin Cushing added that personal counselors are available to students "during this difficult time."
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"Please know that the safety and well-being of our young women is of the upmost importance to us," Cushing wrote in a message delivered to Carondelet families. "I am proud of the courage shown by this young woman in coming forward with this information. The Carondelet Community will stand behind her."
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office is slated to review the case.
Police believe the sexual assault report to be an isolated incident with no additional victims.
Students at De La Salle, an all-boys institute that educates more than 1,000 students, share classes with female students at Carondelet, an all-girls school located directly across the street.
De La Salle is known nationwide for its history of prowess on the gridiron. The Spartans racked up 151-consecutive wins during a 12-year span in the 1990s and early 2000s, a feat that was documented in the 2014 film "When the Game Stands Tall."
Further information regarding the sexual assault was unavailable at the time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Kyle Colvin at 925-603-5856. Those wishing to remain anonymous call can 925-603-5836.
