An Idaho teen is suing his school district, alleging that a sexual assault by three football players in his town was part of a systemic and on-going pattern of bullying, racial taunts and physical abuse.

The teen is black, and the three alleged assailants, who are also facing criminal charges, are white.

The federal suit alleges that the incidents happened in the presence of coaches and school officials, and included one incident where he was forced into a fist-fight by coaches, who said they wanted to ‘toughen him up.’

The 330-person town of Dietrich is predominantly white. The teen is one of several black children adopted by a local family. Here & Now's Robin Young talks with Alex Riggins, crime and courts reporter with the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Note: The audio version of this story contains explicit discussion of rape and sexual assault.

Guest