School lets players remain in game after sex charges

Two North Webster High School football players participated in the school’s Friday playoff loss to Amite hours after being arrested on misdemeanor charges of having sex with a juvenile.
Multiple media reports say Devin White, 17, and Keuntra Gipson, 18, both of Springhill, were booked into the Springhill City Jail Friday on misdemeanor charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Both were released from jail after posting bail of $1,000 set by Webster District Judge Charles Jacobs.
Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd said the 14-year-old victim also attends North Webster. Police began investigating after her parents reported her missing following a pep rally Thursday night. She was dropped off at the police station later Thursday night, spoke to Lynd, and was taken to Springhill Medical Center. White and Gipson were arrested Friday morning. The two face a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail if convicted.
Lynd said police have determined the girl consented to sex.
White is a running back considered a top college recruit, with the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University showing interest. North Webster lost the game 45-42, but White scored three touchdowns, rushing for 150 yards, catching three passes for 51 yards and returning a kickoff 59 yards. White also plays linebacker, while Gipson plays fullback and linebacker. Both are seniors.
Webster Parish schools Superintendent Dan Rawls told KTBS-TV (http://bit.ly/1lAXRd8) that he decided not to immediately suspend White and Gipson after “a lot of discussion” among school system administrators and their lawyers.
Rawls said the teens were eligible to play because no school disciplinary action had been taken. School officials are gathering information about what happened and plan a disciplinary hearing after Thanksgiving.
North Webster coach John Ware refused to discuss the charges after the game.
“I’ll talk to you about the football game, but if you ask about anything else, I’m walking off,” he told Shreveport’s The Times (http://bit.ly/1N3OgpB).