Charges Handed Down In Kingfisher Football Hazing Case

Kingfisher High School football coach Jeff Myers and three others have been charged in relation to hazing accusations against the school. One of those charged is the father of one of the accusers. 

The charge against Myers is felony child neglect.

In addition to Myers, former assistant Micah Nall was charged with felonious child abuse and perjury. Failure to report abuse charges were brought against Kingfisher school board member Dana Golbek and Justin Mecklenburg, the father of accuser Mason Mecklenburg. Those charges are misdemeanors.

According to the Oklahoman, this all began after a lawsuit was filed accusing the district and coaches of allowing the hazing of freshman players on the football team back in February 2022.

Then in March 2022, John Doe No. 1, filed a civil suit against the district and several coaches describing daily bullying, harassment, and abuse. It is also alleged that the Kingfisher football team coaches knew what was going on and even encouraged it. OSBI and OSDE then began investigating the Kingfisher football program due to the alleged hazing

Thirteen months after Kingfisher Public Schools rejected $1.5 million to settle a hazing lawsuit, attorneys for the plaintiff have doubled down. In a new settlement offer, attorneys for John Doe, a former Kingfisher High School football player, demanded $5 million.

A settlement demand involving a student’s bullying and assault case against the high school’s football coach was on the agenda in May for a Kingfisher Public Schools’ school board meeting.

During the meeting in May, a John Doe student accused Myers of abuse, and his attorneys asked for the coach to be fired.

Then in August, new court filings in the case against the Kingfisher football coach, Jeff Myers were released. The State Supreme Court case files outline almost two decades of alleged abuse, saying that coaches and administration at Kingfisher knew about many of the instances and did nothing about them.

Just recently, on October 11, three sides in the lawsuit laid out their arguments in front of an Oklahoma Supreme Court referee.

Alleged Kingfisher Abuse Case: Awaiting Oklahoma Supreme Court Decision

The lawsuit that alleges years of abuse and cover-ups from the current Kingfisher Football Coach was heard in the Oklahoma Supreme Court on October 11. State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Department of Education are named in the suit as well.

The three sides laid out their arguments in front of an Oklahoma Supreme Court referee. 

The parents of the alleged victim, Mason Mecklenburg, are asking the court to assume jurisdiction and force the local or state board of education to take action to reprimand Myers.

Mecklenburg’s attorney, Nathan Hall, spoke about almost two decades of alleged abuse and cover-ups at the hands of current Kingfisher football coach, Jeff Myers, saying that coaches and administration at Kingfisher knew about many of the instances and did nothing about them.

“We have a well-documented record that multiple students have been subjected to bullying, hazing, abuse, and sexual assault, boys in the locker room at Kingfisher Public Schools, yet Kingfisher refuses to do anything about it,” said Hall.

One court document shared fifteen different incidents spanning from February 2005 through March 2023. The filings say that “Kingfisher Public Schools has acknowledged each incident violated KPS’s own policies and in many cases, state and federal law.”

These incidents include sexual assault in the locker room and on team buses, physical assaults, and more. One former player said what he endured at Kingfisher landed him in rehab more than once, and another cited sexual assault and physical abuse as the reason he attempted suicide twice.

The lawsuit claims the Mecklenburg’s first brought forward claims involving the alleged abuse of their son in 2021—however, they're asserting that district and state officials have failed to take needed action.

Court documents allege that for almost two decades, the Kingfisher football program has condoned bullying, hazing, violence, and child abuse. Those suing say head football coach Jeff Myers bears responsibility.

One filing is almost 400 pages and includes testimony from parents and former students, depositions, evidence, and more, alleging abuse and cover-up at the hands of Kingfisher football coach, Jeff Myers.

The lawsuit goes on to request the Supreme Court direct the local and state superintendent -“to take necessary action to terminate Jeff Myers.”

Myers was invited to speak during the hearing but did not attend.

State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the State Board of Education are also named in this lawsuit. Walters was invited to speak at Tuesday's hearing but also didn’t show. Walters' counsel said he and the OSDE were caught in the middle of something that should be handled on the local level. His presentation to the Supreme Court referee was very short compared to the other two attorneys and relayed that he didn’t believe Walters or OSDE should have any part.

When it comes to the alleged Kingfisher incidents, Hall said Walters has not communicated with them.

News 9 has reached out to OSDE Communications numerous times over the past few months as we have followed the case and have not received a response. 

The referee will submit the case to the Oklahoma Supreme Court justices to make a decision.

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