TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Police Department (TPD) has provided more information on an alleged sexual assault involving Thoreau Middle School students on a school bus.
TPD said both students involved are 13 years old, which means the Tulsa Police Child Crisis Unit has taken over.
Detectives explained that there is no question that a sexual act happened on the school bus in front of other students, but the investigation has centered around whether or not the act was consensual.
TPD Sgt. Mark Kraft said that another student recorded the alleged assault on his cellphone, and TPD has that footage. They have also gathered footage from the school bus’ surveillance video.
Kraft continued, explaining that TPD’s Cyber Crimes Unit is going through the video to try and gain more insight into what exactly took place.
“Once we get all the video downloaded and look at all of that, hopefully we can determine whether it was consensual or not, or at least have a better idea of whether or not it was,” Kraft told FOX23.
If TPD determine that the act was consensual, no criminal charges will be filed.
Even though both teens involved are under the age of consent in Oklahoma — which is 16 — Kraft said the law states there has to be a three year gap in age between the alleged victim and suspect for the act to be considered illegal.
Police said they are also looking further into the student who recorded the alleged assault on a cellphone. While it could be helpful in proving what happened on the bus, Kraft explained that the video was reportedly shared on TikTok.
As soon as it was shared on social media, it’s considered “distribution of child porn,” according to TPD.
The video has since been removed.
Kraft said if charges are brought about in any part of the investigation, it will be handled by the juvenile court system.
©2021 Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/BY5Q5EUP55A3NBU6AQNWFJQCO4.jpg)
Sign Up
