17 Year Old Clovis California High School Student To Stand Trial For Employing Butt Drag On 14 Year Old Teammate During Practice; Charged With Sexual Battery; Victim’s Father Says Accused A Bully

From the Fresno Bee a report on 17 year old high school wrestler Preston Hill, suspended from Buchan High School in Clovis, California and charged with a sex crime, after he executed a manoeuvre commonly known as the “butt drag” during a practice session July 15th on a 14 year old teammate. That move is best described as that when a wrestler grabs an opponent’s butt cheek and places their fingers in the anus to gain more leverage. Preston’s father, Darren Hill, says "It just doesn't make sense. His coaches taught him the move when he was in middle school. All the wrestlers use it and my son did it in front of his coaches at a school-sponsored event." The victim’s father, however tells a different tale, Ross Rice saying that Preston is a bully who targeted his son because he stood up to Preston in an earlier encounter, and now he says his son is being bullied by Preston’s friends. Ross Rice says that “Preston took it beyond a simple wrestling move. He crossed a line.” The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office agrees, charging Preston with sexual battery. His trial begins Thursday in Fresno County Superior Court. Former Fresno State wrestling coach Dennis DeLddo is quoted by the paper saying the “butt drag” is a common move used frequently, adding “I’ve never this move used as being ugly or dirty.” District Attorney Elizabeth Egan declined to comment, but Michael Idiart, a former assistant Fresno County district attorney, said he would not have filed criminal charges because wrestlers know that once they get on the mat, they are consenting to pain, and sometimes embarrassment."If this is a legitimate and recognized wrestling move, the DA has no case," he said.