BIXBY, Okla. -- Lawyers representing four Bixby High School football players charged in a rape investigation involving another member of the football team denied the allegations Friday during a news conference.
The news conference, at Brewster & De Angelis, P.L.L.C. in Tulsa, began at 2 p.m. Lawyers said the incident was not sexual in nature, but was rather the result of a roughhousing culture.
Lawyers representing the players also said there was no real victim in the case. Watch the full news conference in the video player above.
Read a release from lawyers after charges were filed Thursday:
Four boys, ages 16-17, have been charged with rape that could lead to lengthy adult prison sentences. The boys and their families have fully cooperated and have been completely transparent.
The clear and consistent statements of all persons with knowledge confirm that this was not a sexual assault, but was part of a prankish, roughhousing culture on the football team. The charges ignored this truth. The State also disregarded that the accuser had engaged in similar roughhousing conduct that is now alleged as criminal. The accuser was not charged.
The families and the boys are devastated by this action. They will aggressively defend and respond with the truth.
Rape by instrumentation charges were filed Thursday against Samuel Isaiah Lakin, 17, William Thomas, 17, Colton Cable, 17, and Joe Wood, 16. Warrants have been issued for their arrests.
RELATED: Rape charges filed against Bixby football players in sex assault case
The football players were accused of assaulting a 16-year-old teammate in the case. An affidavit said the victim told investigators it happened at a team function in late September at the home of Bixby's former superintendent, Kyle Wood.
RELATED: Rogers County DA also investigating adults for reported Bixby football rape
All four boys bonded out of jail on Thursday night. Arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 8.
The boys facing the allegations made no comment during the news conference.
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