CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. – Indiana State Police are investigating a report of sexual battery at a central Indiana high school.
Two seniors are suspended pending expulsion for the assault that happened to a freshman boy at Clinton Prairie Junior/Senior High School in Clinton County.
Superintendent Chris Sampson tells FOX59 the incident happened in a locker room at the school between P.E. classes. It was actually a teacher who heard rumors about it and reported it to administrators.
The school is small, rural, but now making headlines for something the district says happened behind its walls.
“It is shocking,” said Kathryn Barker, who lives nearby.
Administrators got the report of bullying on April 25 and passed it onto authorities.
The superintendent said the victim initially claimed he’d been held, treated against his will, and poked in the ribs, but denied it was in a sexual way. He also said he was fully clothed, and it all happened three times since spring break.
But days after it first came to light, the superintendent said the victim came back and added to that story, the details neither state police nor the district are releasing.
“They were making an announcement to put all this to rest so that people could feel safe going to school, and parents feel safe, you know,” said Mindy Bratton, a parent.
Bratton said the district held an assembly Monday to try and quiet the rumors. Her seventh grade son was there. Bratton said she isn’t worried about the incident, but others in the community are.
“It’s not good for kids growing up anymore,” said Barker.
According to a police report obtained by FOX59, there were three witnesses to the crime.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office initially handled the case, but Indiana State Police got involved because of a conflict of interest.
ISP says the Clinton County prosecutor will make a charging decision when the investigation is complete.
