NORMAN, Okla. -- A Cleveland County district judge said two Moore students accused of hazing can return to school immediately, but said it was up to Moore coaches as to their future in high school football.

Read The Lawsuit (PDF)
Players Present Their Case
Victim Says He Complied Out Of Fear

Judge William Heatherington further issued a permanent injunction against the Moore School District, barring it from suspending any student for more than three days without a thorough investigation and without a detailed written statement as to why the student is being suspended.

Heatherington said it was beyond his jurisdiction to reinstate Chance Hoss and Victor Perez to the Moore High School football team.

Hoss and Perez were suspended for the rest of the semester for allegedly hazing a teammate two weeks ago. The students went before a judge last week, but a decision was made to give the school district more time to investigate. The players are asking for reinstatement to both the school and the team. They said the alleged victim in the case actually initiated the incident.

The Moore School District initially suspended several of the students for three days, but then -- upon appeal -- suspended some for the rest of the semester. In all, four students were suspended for the rest of the semester, and four were suspended for three days and then reinstated.

Oklahoma City attorney Mike Gassaway said his clients merely were bystanders, initiating nothing against the teammate.

"They didn't make this kid do anything," Gassaway said. "They didn't harass, intimidate, promise -- didn't say 'Something bad is going to happen to you.' Did nothing but watch this kid make an absolute fool out of himself."

Gassaway noted that neither Hoss nor Perez has a history of bullying or inappropriate behavior.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News 5 for further details and continuing coverage.