When news broke of an "incident" that occurred on a Norman North High School bus returning from a wrestling tournament, details were scarce. Reports only indicated that the allegations were "disturbing," and that two coaches were immediately suspended. Now, more details have been released following the arrest of four high school wrestlers accused of sexually assaulting two other wrestlers--one of them a 12-year-old boy.
Tanner Shipman, 18, is charged with three counts of rape by instrumentation for one incident involving a 16-year-old student and two incidents involving a 12-year-old student.
Sage Gandenberger, 17, and Chase Smith, 16, are each charged as youthful offenders with three counts of rape by instrumentation for the same incidents as those alleged in Shipman's case.
A fourth teen, Hunter Matthews, 17, is charged with one count of rape by instrumentation for one incident involving the younger student.
All four teens have since been released on bond. Although the District Attorney's Office requested bond in the amount of $50,000 for the 18-year-old, who faces adult charges, and $10,000 to $20,000 for the teens charged as youthful offenders, Garvin County District Judge Trisha Miska set the bond for all three teens at $5,000--an act which stunned many Oklahomans.
A CNN report says that the charges stem from the alleged sexual assaults of two wrestlers as the team from Norman North returned from a tournament in Pauls Valley. Investigators say that Shipman and other students physically restrained the 16-year-old student while two of the wrestlers digitally penetrated the victim's anus over his clothing, and forced the teen to touch Shipman's crotch.
The allegations state that they then attempted to lure the 12-year-old middle school wrestler to the back of the bus, and when that failed, the older wrestlers dragged him to the back of the bus and performed the same type of assault against him.
The teens are accused of assaulting the 12-year-old again when they arrived back at Norman North. Investigators say they forced the younger boy into a secluded corner and assaulted him. The boy allegedly tried to escape, but the older wrestlers caught up to him and forced him between two cars to continue the assault. The alleged assault ended when the boy's parent happened upon the scene.
First degree rape by instrumentation is a felony sex crime punishable by 5 years to life in prison. Those charged as youthful offenders will likely face lighter sentencing.
The defendants are due back in court in April.
