Four High School Wrestlers Charged With Raping Two Teammates

The Oklahoma high school students were charged Monday with raping two boys — aged 12 and 16 — during an apparent hazing incident after a wrestling tournament in January.

Pioneer Library System / Via Flickr: jsyk

Prosecutors in Oklahoma on Monday charged four high school wrestlers with raping two teammates on a bus following a tournament in January.

The four Norman North High School students were charged after police concluded their investigation into the alleged sexual assaults of two boys aged 16 and 12 who were on the junior varsity wrestling team.

Court records show an 18-year-old was charged as an adult with felony counts of first-degree rape by instrumentation by force and fear, and two felony counts of first-degree rape by instrumentation of a victim under the age of 14.

Two other aged 17 and 16 were charged with three counts of rape by instrumentation. Another 17-year-old boy was charged with one count of rape by instrumentation.

CNN reported that the district attorney viewed video footage of the incident before charging the students.

The suspects are accused of restraining the 16-year-old victim in the back of the bus while some of them inserted their fingers into his anus over his clothing, according to court documents obtained by CNN.

Later, the suspects allegedly restrained the 12-year-old at the back of the bus and sexually assaulted him in the same manner. When they arrived back on campus, the 12-year-old was assaulted again, according to court documents.

All four suspects have pleaded not guilty. And the each were released on $5,000 bond.

Joseph Siano, superintendent of Norman Public Schools, said in a statement Tuesday that the four charged students have been suspended and two coaches were dismissed.

"We will not tolerate individuals who victimize our students," he said.

Administrators also strengthened "student activity travel procedures," including rules for increased supervision and video surveillance equipment on district buses.

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