DeMatha Community 'Saddened and Hurt' by Prostitution Scandal

DeMatha Catholic High School's principal, Dr. Dan McMahon, has released a statement detailing how school officials learned of and responded to

"The school stands behind our coach, Elijah Brooks, his staff, the school staff who monitored the trip, and our students," wrote McMahon in the statement. "The school community is saddened and hurt by the actions of these few who do not reflect the character of the community."

According to McMahon, the incident happened on Saturday, Sept. 1, following last week's road game against Hillside High School in Durham, NC. The team, which sent 65 players and 18 chaperones to Durham, held a meeting with student athletes and parents before the trip. 

"Expectations for behavior were reinforced throughout the trip," said McMahon in the statement. "As on all field trips, we conducted room checks and monitored hallways."

McMahon said that the chaperones had conducted bed checks at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday and that the hallways of the hotel had been monitored through 4:30 a.m. 

McMahon confirmed reports that the students snuck the prostitutes into the hotel after 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.

School officials did not learn of the incident until three days later on Tuesday, Sept. 4. An investigation was then begun by school officials. Soon after, according to McMahon, five student-athletes  on the football team were informed that they would be facing disciplinary procedures stemming from the incident. 

McMahon said that school officials notified the Archdiocese of Washington of the incident, as well "proper authorities" in Maryland and North Carolina.

A phone call to the Durham Police Department seeking comment has not yet been returned. 

The incident, late Thursday, has garnered national attention, with coverage of the incident appearing on USA Today and sports-news website SBNation.com

McMahon has been the principal of DeMatha since 2000. He's also a graduate of the school and a 29-year faculty member.