and By MONROE ROARK

[email protected]

Two former Fayette County High

School football players have pled guilty to reckless conduct for their

role in a hazing incident involving another player.

In addition, FCHS is looking

for a new football coach in the wake of the resignation of its rookie

varsity chief, James Edwin Lindsey.

Matthew P. Hoisington, 18,

and Daniel Jeb Thaxton, 17, have both pleaded guilty to reckless conduct

(party to a crime). Both were sentenced to one year on probation and $125

fines. Hoisington also paid the victim's medical expenses: a $15 deductible.

Hoisington and Thaxton have

also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the case against fellow teammate

Jason Watford, 18, who is accused of hitting the victim with a weight

belt after dragging him around the locker room floor.

Watford is charged with simple

battery and reckless conduct.

Although Hoisington and Thaxton

participated in tying up the victim, they both intervened once the situation

escalated, said State Court Solicitor Steve Harris.

"They both took steps

when it got out of hand to say, 'This is enough,'" Harris said.

Harris said he expected Watford's

case would also be resolved before going to trial.

Police originally indicated

they thought the victim was singled out for possibly causing the team

to run more in practice. The incident occurred after football season ended

for the Tigers.

In another development, for

the second time in a year, Fayette County High School is looking for a

new football coach.

Head coach James Edwin Lindsey

submitted his resignation to FCHS principal Dr. Charles Warr Jan. 28,

according to school system spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach. The resignation

is effective May 28.

Lindsey, whose only coaching

duties involved football, came to Fayette County last April from Williston

High School in Florida, Berry-Dreisbach said. He wants to stay with the

school as a teacher, and Warr accepted that request, she added.

While offering very little

comment as to the possible reason for the decision, citing personnel guidelines,

Berry-Dreisbach said that Lindsey felt the football situation "wasn't

working out."

Hiring of teachers and coaches

is at the discretion of the principal, with no school board action required,

except for the general personnel list approved at each month's board meeting.

The Tigers finished the 2002

season with a 2-8 record.

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