Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND -The alleged sexual assault that occurred on a Great Bend High School activity bus has more than just the Great Bend community in an uproar.

People from across the state are receiving more details on what happened to a freshman swimmer on February 6 during a the swim team’s return from Manhattan.

Victims, supporters, and community members now want answers.

O’Neil said her son’s backpack was thrown to the back of the school bus and when he went to retrieve the bag he was thrown down to the floor. His teammates eventually pulled his pants down and proceeded to sexually assault him.

When O’Neil went to pick her son up she said she was shocked that law enforcement had not been contacted.

“There is no question that it happened,” she said. “The boys who did it have even sent my son text messages asking for forgiveness and facebook messages saying they are sorry.”

Since the alleged assault happened on a highway in Ellsworth County, the Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office is handling the case.

The Sheriff’s Office will file their investigation with the Ellsworth County Attorney to determine what criminal charges to seek.

O’Neil said she is upset with how USD 428 handled the incident, from supervision on the bus to the lack of letting the public know what happened.

Two of the four students allegedly involved have been served with a five-day school suspension and kicked off the state swim team, according to O’Neil. She also said she was informed the other two accused students are still on the team.

A petition at change.org has over 2,400 supporters as of Sunday evening. The petition’s asks to keep the alleged assault offenders from going to the state tournament this week in Topeka.

Great Bend students have planned a march to USD 428’s superintendent’s office Monday afternoon to demand a stricter punishment for those involved and more transparency with the case.