Prosecutors Weigh Charging Officials In School ‘Fight Club': Report

Prosecutors are deciding whether school officials should be charged for failing to report a substitute teacher over allegations of his involvement in a "fight club" at Montville High School, according to an Associated Press report.

Police said cellphone videos show 23-year-old Ryan Fish, of Bozrah, encouraging students as they slap each other in a classroom at Montville High School.

Fish was fired in October, but police were not notified until two months later.

Superintendent Brian Levesque has said he did not alert police because he knew of only one fight and thought it was an isolated incident.

A spokesman for the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney responded to NBC Connecticut with a statement when asked if the office would be making a determination about whether to prosecute school officials in Montville.

“The Department of Children and Families referred a matter involving compliance with the mandated reporter law in Montville to this agency. The matter was referred to the Office of the State’s Attorney in New London, which has jurisdiction over all criminal matters in the Town of Montville. We do not comment on any pending investigation,” the statement says.

Fish has denied facilitating the fights.

"I didn't know what they were doing, to be honest with you," Fish said when asked if he allowed students to fight in his classroom.

He pleaded not guilty to charges including reckless endangerment.

"I am so sorry. Because I'll be totally honest, I was just trying to reach the kids. I thought these kids were just being rambunctious. I just thought they needed an out," Fish said after a court appearance. "If I had known what it was doing to the kids I would have done something completely different."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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