Southmoore Wrestler Charged With Rape

<p>A Southmoore High School wrestler is now charged with rape by instrumentation. </p>

Thursday, February 4th 2016, 10:12 pm

By: News 9

A Southmoore High School wrestler is now charged with rape by instrumentation. Moore police say the details of this case are similar to the recent claims involving Norman North wrestlers.

News 9 was told the 17-year-old is expected to turn himself in Friday.

According to court documents, he made a confession to police.

Investigators said the incident happened the morning of January 19, inside the Southmoore wrestling room. The Southmoore wrestling team met at the school early to "travel for a wrestling dual in Edmond".

According to court documents, the teen later told a Moore detective he stuck his finger inside two boys "over the victim's clothing... and attempted to perform the act on a third juvenile".

The document also said the suspect admitted to having it done "to him previously and doing it to other persons".

“Once penetration is made into someone else's body, I mean that's crossing the line in horseplay every time,” said Cleveland County District Attorney.

Police said the teen explained the incident as "part of a wrestling maneuver, however, he had never performed the act on anyone during a match".

“It's my understanding that in this case talking to the coaches it's not a wrestling move, it's not something that they taught,” said Mashburn.

The teen is now the fifth Cleveland County wrestler to be charged following reports of sexual assault of a younger student.

On Monday, four Norman North wrestlers were charged with multiple counts of rape for a similar incident.

“As similar as they may be, we do take them as independent cases that rest on their own facts,” said Mashburn.

Due to privacy laws Moore Public School wouldn't comment on any disciplinary actions it may have taken, but says "the district responded appropriately and in line with district policy".

At this time, the District Attorney's office has not received a report from Moore Police on another investigation at Central Junior High.