Four wrestlers from Norman North High School in Oklahoma have been charged with rape, stemming from a January incident that took place on a team bus.
Three of the four wrestlers were charged with three counts of rape by instrumentation, and the fourth was charged with one count.
A 12-year-old middle school wrestler was assaulted multiple times, and another victim, a 16-year-old, was assaulted once.
Shortly after the assaults were reported, the alleged assailants were suspended from school, and an adjunct coach who was supposed to be supervising the bus was dismissed. According to Oklahoma City’s News 9, another coach was suspended, but has since resigned.
Norman Public Schools released a statement on the situation.
“Student safety is a top priority and we followed procedures we have in place that allow us to effectively investigate and take swift action in these situations,” the statement read. “We appreciate the individuals who came forward to provide information, the Norman Police Department’s thorough investigation and the quick action by the District Attorney on this incident. We are well-prepared to handle situations like this and have programs in place to support students who experience trauma. And, while we believe the district’s policies regarding student supervision are strong, we continuously evaluate our procedures to ensure they are followed.”
