Ark Valley News - Animal cruelty probe closing

Animal cruelty probe closing
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: May 02, 2024

The investigation into allegations of animal cruelty involving the Valley Center High School baseball program was wrapping up this week, but it still may be another month before a decision on charges is made.

Valley Center Police Chief Lloyd Newman said on April 29 that the investigation is "nearly complete."

Newman did not go into specifics of the case.

However, Newman said requests for appointments to present cases to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office for possible charges "are running about four weeks out."

The varsity baseball team's season was suspended on April 22 after the school district learned of possible animal cruelty involving what the district said was the entire varsity team and coaching staff.

The police department later confirmed that the allegations involved a chicken and the incident was alleged to have taken place at the varsity baseball field behind the intermediate school in the 700 block of North Meridian between noon and 2 p.m. April 20, just before the team left for a doubleheader in Towanda.

In response to a request for an interview about the case, Valley Center school district Superintendent Greg Lehr said last week that the district does not "have an updated statement or response, other than what we've already said."

The News reached out to Matt Robertson, head coach of the team since 2020, this week. He did not respond to a request for an interview.

The varsity team has missed seven regular-season games so far. Only one regular-season contest remains on its schedule, May 3 against Goddard Eisenhower. Regionals start May 13.

The junior varsity team continues to play games. Before games April 30, it had lost nine of its last 10.