GILMER COUNTY, Ga. — Three former Calhoun High School students face dozens of additional charges in an alleged sexual assault on a female classmate at a prom after party at a cabin in Gilmer County last May.
Fields Chapman, Andrew Haynes and Avery Johnson, all 18 years old, were arraigned Monday on a new indictment that replaced an earlier indictment dismissed by a judge for procedural errors.
"The first indictment has four counts in it. The second indictment has 38. This whole case is terribly exaggerated." said defense attorney Stephen Williams.
Williams represents former student Andrew Haynes. Haynes and the two other defendants face multiple charges including aggravated sexual battery, sodomy and public indecency, according to the indictment.
Fields Chapman is also charged in a second, separate indictment that accuses him of taking pictures of a minor for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
All the defense attorneys contend the young men did not break the law and that that any sexual contact they had with the classmate was consensual.
"We are glad to be arraigned. We've entered our plea of not guilty and we are moving forward," said defense attorney Jessie Vaughn.
Since their arrests, the accused graduates have lost college admissions and scholarships.
"They are working. They're doing some courses online. They've tried to get into other schools but no one would take them." said Williams.
A0ttorneys said many of the 25 young adults who attended the party may be called to testify at the trial, which may not begin until later this year or next year.