HOT SPRINGS -- Two 14-year-old boys at Hot Springs Lakeside High School accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in the school's field house entered innocent pleas Tuesday in Garland County Juvenile Court.
The boys were arrested Friday at the school by Hot Springs police and remain in custody in the Garland County Juvenile Detention Center.
Both have been charged with rape, according to police. Garland County Prosecuting Attorney Terri Harris said Monday that she would review the case to determine whether charges will be filed in adult or juvenile court.
Lakeside Superintendent Shawn Cook said Tuesday that the district will not allow the two boys on campus until further information is received from the juvenile court.
Cook said the district plans to add stronger security measures, including the addition of two full-time Hot Springs police officers and more security cameras. Lakeside currently employs one full-time Hot Springs police officer and has 134 security cameras spread across campus.
Cook said a police officer was within 30 yards of Lakeside Ram Field House when the attack reportedly occurred Feb. 24, and three officers were at the district directing after-school traffic at the time. School was dismissed at 3 p.m. that day, and school administrators also were outside on traffic duty.
Cook said the district had spoken with the company contracted to install cameras on the same day the girl reportedly was assaulted. Lakeside completed renovations to the field house in December but had not installed cameras pending the resolution of a connectivity problem.
"We are adding four cameras to this facility," Cook said. "We are just trying to have a high awareness of everybody by looking at facilities and what we can and cannot secure."
Arkansas State Police and Hot Springs Police Department began an investigation after the girl told a teacher on Thursday about the assault. School officials reported it to law enforcement officials, and the two students were arrested Friday.
According to an affidavit, the girl entered the field house and was forced into the girls locker room by the boys, who turned the locker-room lights off and stood behind her, removed her backpack, held her to prevent her from moving and refused to let her go when she asked them to release her.
The girl said the boys sexually assaulted her as she attempted to break free. After about two minutes, she escaped their hold and fled outside the field house, the affidavit said.
"Usually we have all of our coaches there," Cook said Tuesday. "We have the coaches' offices directly across from the dressing rooms. What happened that particular day was that during seventh period we have athletics, and the young lady came to practice after school when all the kids were being dismissed. The teams were already outside."
Approximately 3,400 students from kindergarten to 12th grade attend Lakeside School District. Cook said the school district plans to conduct follow-up assemblies with students to reinforce advice about traveling in pairs or groups, awareness of surroundings, and reporting anything that appears dangerous to the school's tip line.
"I haven't talked to the kids myself," Cook said. "I can imagine that they are probably in shock. I can't say that anything like this has happened here."
State Desk on 03/02/2016