In the past week, five metro-area high school wrestlers at two Oklahoma high schools have been arrested and charged with rape in alleged sexual assaultsagainst teammates.
Four Norman North High School Wrestlers were arrested related to incidents alleged to have occurred on the team's bus as the wrestlers returned from atournament in Pauls Valley. In that case, three of the accused wrestlers allegedly held down a 16-year-old teammate in the back of the bus, as theydigitally penetrated his anus over his clothing. They then allegedly attempted to lure a 12-year-old middle school wrestler to the back of the busto do the same thing to him. When he refused to come to the back of the bus, the wrestlers then dragged him to the back and assaulted him.
Investigators sat the accused teens sexually assaulted the 12-year-old a second time after the bus returned to Norman North High School. The older wrestlersallegedly took the younger boy to a secluded area of the school grounds, but he broke free and ran. The teens caught up with him and allegedly assaultedhim again between two cars, only stopping when a parent happened upon the scene.
Arrested and charged with rape by instrumentation are Tanner Shipman, 18, who, as an 18-year-old, is charged as an adult, and three younger teens, aged16 and 17, who are charged as youthful offenders. All four were released on $5,000 bond, which outraged many who call a $5,000 bond far too low fora rape case.
Meanwhile Moore school officials announced that they were investigating two similar sexual assaults at two of the district's schools: one at Central JuniorHigh School and another at Southmoore High School. A 17-year-old Southmoore wrestler allegedly admitted to assaulting his accuser and other wrestlers,but said the act was a common wrestling maneuver--a claim his coaches denied. The teen was arrested and charged as a youthful offender with rape byinstrumentation.
First degree rape by instrumentation is a felony sex crime punishable by 5 years to life in prison. It is a Level 3 sex offense which requires lifetimesex offender registration. However, Oklahoma maintains a separate juvenile sex offender registry, and not every minor convicted of a sex crime is requiredto register.
