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Four Norman North High School Students Charged With Rape

GARVIN COUNTY, Okla. (KOTV) — Four high school wrestlers from Norman North are facing rape charges following what was initially described as a “disturbing...
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GARVIN COUNTY, Okla. (KOTV) — Four high school wrestlers from Norman North are facing rape charges following what was initially described as a “disturbing incident” on a junior varsity wresting team bus in January.

Three of the four wrestlers, who police have identified as 18-year-old Tanner Shane Shipman, 17-year-old Shane Griffen Gandenberger, and 16-year-old Chase Denton Smith, were charged with three counts of rape by instrumentation against two male victims, ages 16 and 12.

A fourth wrestler, identified as 17-year-old Hunter Oren Matthews, was charged with one count of rape by instrumentation of the 12-year-old.

The alleged incident occurred on Jan. 9, as the junior varsity wrestling team was returning to Norman from a tournament in Pauls Valley. According to the court documents, Shipman, Gandenberger and Smith each assaulted the 16-year-old at the back of the bus by restraining him and using their fingers to sexually assault the boy over his clothing.

Later, all four suspects attempted to lure a 12-year-old middle school wrestler to the back of the bus as well, before pulling the boy to the back. All four suspects then assault the boy in the same manner as before. This time, however, the suspects placed a condom over their fingers before the assault, the report states.

When the bus arrived back at Norman North, the 12-year-old was assaulted again; once in a secluded area on the side of the building and again between two vehicle in the parking lot when  the victim briefly escaped. According to the report, the assault only ended when the 12-year-old boy’s parent arrived at the school.

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