Norman North High Rapists

[RidgeHunter]

Forgive me if we already have a thread on this.

Something that's not all that rare in middle and high school athletics finally comes in to the light.

Four Norman North High School wrestlers were charged Monday with rape by instrumentation as a result of a police investigation into allegations two of their teammates were sexually assaulted on a bus.

The investigation found that “multiple acts of sexual assault” occurred Jan. 9 as the Norman North High School junior varsity wrestling team returned from a tournament that took place in Pauls Valley, police reported.

The victims are 16 and 12, police reported.

Police reported the 16-year-old high school wrestler was sexually assaulted first on the bus and then the 12-year-old middle school wrestler. Police reported the 12-year-old was sexually assaulted again after the bus arrived at Norman North High School.
Norman North junior varsity wrestling team under investigation after alleged sexual assault on bus

During the sexual assault in a secluded area outside the school, the 12-year-old escaped but was tackled and forced between two parked vehicles, police reported. His attackers then “attempt to do all of this again,” a police detective wrote in a court affidavit.

“The incident finally ends when Victim B's parent arrives in the parking lot,” the detective wrote.

The four defendants already have been suspended from school. They were charged in Garvin County District Court because prosecutors allege that is where the offenses began. All four are from Norman.

Three defendants, Tanner Shane Shipman, 18; Sage Griffen Gandenberger, 17, and Chase Denton Smith, 16, are accused of raping both teammates. Each of those three is charged with three counts of rape by instrumentation.

The fourth defendant, Hunter Oren Matthews, 17, is accused of raping only the younger teammate. He is charged with one count of rape by instrumentation.

The charges are felonies, which could mean prison time if they are convicted. Shipman is charged as an adult. The other three defendants are charged as youthful offenders.

All four are expected to turn themselves in Tuesday and make their first court appearances. Their defense attorneys either could not be reached for comment Monday or declined to comment.

The evidence against the four defendants includes a video from a surveillance camera on the bus. Prosecutors specifically allege the four used their fingers in the anal attacks. Prosecutors said younger wrestlers were on the bus because the junior varsity team included middle school students.

Police reported the 16-year-old victim was restrained under the seats in the back of the bus and assaulted for more than six minutes, starting soon after the team departed from Pauls Valley.

Police reported both Smith and Gandenberger made comments during the first assault and Shipman, at the end, forced Victim A's hand into his crotch. Police reported Matthews “provided light for them during this event and joked about it afterwards.”

Police reported Shipman later dragged Victim B toward the back of the bus after he and the others attempted to lure one of the middle school students there.

“Soon afterwards, the driver activates the interior lights and an assistant escorts Victim B back to his seat,” the police detective wrote in court affidavits.

“Once the lights turn off, Victim B is persuaded to come to the back under his own power.”

In the back of the bus, Victim B is restrained and sexually assaulted while his mouth is covered, the detective wrote.

In a statement Monday, the Norman Public Schools superintendent, Joseph Siano, said, “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 superintendent thanked individuals who came forward, Norman police and District Attorney Greg Mashburn.

“We are well-prepared to handle situations like this and have programs in place to support students who experience trauma,” the superintendent said.

“And, while we believe the district's policies regarding student supervision are strong, we continuously evaluate our procedures to ensure they are followed. As we address the inappropriate behavior displayed by several students, we remain committed to supporting the vast majority of our student athletes, who are quality individuals that demonstrate positive behavior and strong character traits.”

An adjunct coach was fired after the incident and a second coach was suspended, the school district announced in January.

Attorneys for the defendants charged as youthful offenders could seek to have them prosecuted as juveniles instead. Prosecutors could seek to have them treated as if they were adults.

Each also could be prosecuted as currently charged, as an alleged youthful offender. Upon conviction, a youthful offender is given a chance at rehabilitation that limits detention to a few months after the 18th birthday. However, a judge could require a youthful offender to go to prison for years if he fails at the rehabilitation effort.

http://newsok.com/article/5476076?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=NIC-Facebook

 

[Eagle Eye]

please change title to Norman North rapists. This is a disgrace to Norman High, and misleading a best.

 

[donner]

please change title to Norman North rapists. This is a disgrace to Norman High, and misleading a best.

Done.

 

[RidgeHunter]

please change title to Norman North rapists. This is a disgrace to Norman High, and misleading a best.

Done. They were high schoolers in Norman. I don't get college pride much less high school pride in adults so please forgive my flippancy.

 

[Eagle Eye]

No worries man. I'm sure no one really cares unless they are from Norman. I really don't have pride associated with either high school. But facts gotta be correct ya know.
Thanks

 

[JD8]

So is Oklahoma's culture on the decline? Wonder if these boys were brought up in a masculine christian household?

 

[RidgeHunter]

Anyways.

I had a teacher in 9th grade who was a pretty good athlete at the same school he was then teaching at in the late 70s early 80s. His dad also taught/coached there.

He told a story to some of us in class about how they cornered, held down and raped a guy they suspected of being gay with a mop handle back in the day. Thought it was real funny. So did many of my classmates.

He was fired for other offenses before I graduated. So much f*cked up **** in my school from the staff and my classmates that I just ignored and let slide that I didn't even comprehend the significance of until I was an adult. Kinda makes me sick. I just tried to get the f*ck out as soon as I could. By senior year I was only at school 1-2 hours a day.

I would say male athletes sexually assaulting each other is not that rare. Sure didn't seem it was 15 years ago. Camera phones are the only difference.

 

[TedKennedy]

Anyways.

I had a teacher in 9th grade who was a pretty good athlete at the same school he was then teaching at in the late 70s early 80s. His dad also taught/coached there.

He told a story to some of us in class about how they cornered, held down and raped a guy they suspected of being gay with a mop handle back in the day. Thought it was real funny. So did many of my classmates.

He was fired for other offenses before I graduated. So much f*cked up **** in my school from the staff and my classmates that I just ignored and let slide that I didn't even comprehend the significance of until I was an adult. Kinda makes me sick. I just tried to get the f*ck out as soon as I could. By senior year I was only at school 1-2 hours a day.

I would say male athletes sexually assaulting each other is not that rare. Sure didn't seem it was 15 years ago. Camera phones are the only difference.

I always figured it was football players mostly, but wrasslin' gets you way too close to one another for sure. Do not understand this, at all. Maybe thetight uniforms and showering together draws this kind of guy, kinda like pedos are drawn to "youth functions"?

 

[Glocktogo]

All four of them need to do hard time. Those victims will have to leave that school and hope to get a fresh start. As a matter of fact, I think Norman North should pay their private school tuition.

 

[Hobbes]

Kwtv is reporting on the noon news that a similar incident at SouthMoore is under investigation.