COLLINSVILLE, Miss. — Five Mississippi students were arrested Thursday after being accused of participating in the gang rape of one of their classmates.

“What’s been reported… it’s disturbing,” said Randy Hodges, Lauderdale County School District Superintendent. “It’s one of the most disturbing things that’s happened at our school.”

Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun said some of the students were arrested at West Lauderdale High and others were arrested at home.

Because the five students are all juveniles, their names were not released.

Calhoun said all five students face sexual battery charges and their cases will be handled by the Lauderdale County Youth Court. Calhoun said that in every case, as the investigation continues, additional charges could be filed.

According to the Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the difference between charges of rape and sexual battery depends on the sexual act. Rape charges refer to forced vaginal sex while sexual battery charges refer to forced oral and anal sex.

Sexual battery can also include penetrating a victim with a tongue, finger or foreign object.

If convicted by a Youth Court judge, the five defendants cannot be sentenced to more than five years in prison or a fine that exceeds $5,000, according to the Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault, because all are under age 21.

The crime occurred off-campus over a weekend in March and had nothing to do with a school event, according to Calhoun.

Calhoun said he cannot comment further because all parties involved are juveniles. 

Hodges said that the West Lauderdale High School administration reported the accusations to him and to the police, and said they would cooperate in every way they could with the investigation.

“We’re just waiting on the facts,” Hodges said. “The school district will respond appropriately and then make a decision that’s best for the students.”

Even though the crime occurred off school property, the school district can still suspend the students involved and transfer them to an alternative school, Hodges said.

Hodges confirmed that one student charged is an athlete.

“But we’re not going to be focused on athletics,” Hodges said. “We’re going to be focused on what’s best for the students.”

Downard writes for the Meridian, Mississippi Star.