Oklahoma high school wrestlers plead not guilty to rape

PAULS VALLEY, Okla. (AP) – Four Oklahoma high school wrestlers have pleaded not guilty to charges of sexually assaulting two other wrestlers.

The four from Norman North High School appeared in Garvin County District Court Tuesday. The Oklahoman reports (http://bit.ly/1JWbxuB ) that they were accompanied by their parents and attorneys. Each teenager declined comment.

An 18-year-old, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old each face three counts of rape by instrumentation. Another 17-year-old is charged with one count.

Prosecutors say a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old were both raped on a bus as the wrestling team returned from a tournament. They say the 12-year-old was assaulted again when the bus arrived at Norman North.

School officials say the four suspects have been suspended, one coach was fired and a second coach resigned after being suspended.