Attorneys Want Bixby Sexual Assault Suspects Tried As Juveniles

Attorneys for the four Bixby football players accused of sexually assaulting a teammate have filed a motion to to have their clients tried as juveniles and not youthful offenders.

Samuel Lakin, Joe Wood, William Thomas and Colton Cable are charged with one count of rape by instrumentation. All were arrested and booked into the adult jail and bonded out to wait for trial.

They are all 16 or 17 years old.

Clark Brewster, Paul DeMuro, Brett Swab and Bobby Latham Jr. represent the four football players and filed the motion jointly. Youthful offender status allows the state of Oklahoma to bring harsher consequences for serious crimes than could be given in juvenile court but does provide opportunities not available for an adult.

Reasons listed in the motion state, "Each of the Defendants: (i) have no prior contact with the criminal justice or juvenile justice systems; (ii) are life-long good students with no prior disciplinary problems at school and; (iii) are amenable, if necessary, to the rehabilitation methods and supervision of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, consistent with the purpose of Youthful Offender Act."

If approved, the case would be transferred to the juvenile justice system. Records would be sealed and any punishment would stop on the 18th birthday.

Records state the four students admitted to participating in the sexual assault that happened at the superintendent's house on September 27, 2017.

3/13/2018 Related Story: Attorneys For Bixby Sexual Assault Suspects Want D.A.'s Office Disqualified

They attorneys asked for a judge to move the case. A hearing to get a decision has not been set.