Five Grundy County High School football players charged with attempted rape

The Grundy County High School sign is shown in this 2011 staff file photo.
The Grundy County High School sign is shown in this 2011 staff file photo.

ALTAMONT, Tenn. - Five Grundy County High School football players are charged with attempted aggravated rape after an assault on a freshman player Wednesday at the school, Sheriff Clint Shrum says.

At a news conference, Shrum said all five youths, ages 15 to 17, will remain at home with ankle monitors pending a court hearing Monday. He said it's not yet known if they will be charged as adults.

The sheriff said the five are accused of attempting to rape a 15-year-old freshman with the metal handle of a dust mop in the field house at the school early Wednesday.

The victim was given a medical evaluation, Shrum said, but he did not release any information on the youth's condition.

Shrum said a group of seven football players plus the victim went to the fieldhouse about 5 a.m. to work out before classes. One boy was in the film room watching tapes and another went to sleep in the coache's office; neither knew anything about the alleged attack, Shrum said.

He said there was some horseplay at first, then some boys held the freshman down while others pulled down his pants and attempted to assault him with the mop handle as he struggled and yelled for them to stop.

One of the group recorded the alleged attack on his cellphone, the sheriff said.

Somehow a football coach found out about the incident and alerted the school resource officer, who in turn called Shrum about 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday, the sheriff said. WRCB-Channel 3 reported that head coach Casey Tate has been suspended while the investigation continues.

No school officials were present at the news conference and Superintendent Jessie Kinsey did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

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