Former MHS players plead no contest to assault charge

Four of the five former Molalla High School basketball players charged with a 2006 hazing against a teammate pleaded no contest to third degree assault charges in Clatsop County this morning.

The fifth player, Onisefor Kutsev, had a schedule conflict and will appear for his plea hearing on May 12, the same day the other four defendants will be sentenced.

The young men were originally charged with sexual abuse, but a plea bargain reduced the charge to third degree assault. The third degree assault charge is still a felony, but unlike the sexual abuse charge, it is not a Measure 11 crime and carries much softer penalties and does not label them sex offenders.

Joshua Haqq, 17, and John Berokoff, 19, pleaded as adults and will likely be sentenced to serve 30 days in jail, plus probation, said Clatsop County deputy district attorney Ron Brown. They could face 24 months in prison if they violate probation.

Vlasy Kutsev and Cody Anderson, both 17, pleaded as juveniles and are expected to be sentenced to serve seven days in custody. If they violate probation, they could be sent to Maclaran Youth Correctional Facility, Brown said.

The charges came after a team road trip in December of 2006, when the five players assaulted a teammate on several occasions. Haqq and Berokoff are said to have been the leaders of the hazing.

The young men are scheduled to appear in Deschutes County next Monday and are expected to accept a similar plea bargain.