NATCHEZ &045; A 15-year-old girl that accused three Natchez High students of kidnapping her from the school and raping her told deputies Tuesday afternoon those reports were false, Sheriff Tommy Ferrell said Wednesday.

On May 16, the girl filed with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office a report stating that the three young men kidnapped her near the school gym’s dressing area during lunch earlier that day after displaying a gun.

The girl had said the young men then drove her to the LaGrange subdivision and forced her to engage in sex before driving her back to school before the lunch break ended. The girl was taken to Natchez Regional for examination and released.

But on Tuesday the girl, accompanied by her mother, reported to the sheriff’s office and told deputies the sex was consensual and that no gun was involved, Ferrell said.

However, Derrick Montrell Carter, 17, of 1170 Martin Luther King Jr.; Tre Michael Hebert, 17, of 7 Cottage Farm Road; and Lorenzo Jermaine Green, 18, of 17-B Ram Circle, may still face charges of sexual battery.

The reason? According to state law, a person under 16 cannot give consent.

A charge of sexual battery carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Carter, Hebert and Green face a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Adams County Justice Court, although it is not sure what, if any, charges the prosecution will pursue against them.

Prosecutor Barrett Martin could not be reached for comment late Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile the girl, who could not be reached for comment Wednesday, will face a charge of filing a false report. That case will be handled through Adams County Youth Court.

The Natchez Democrat does not print the names of juvenile suspects unless they are charged as adults.

It was not clear as of Wednesday what disciplinary action any of the students might face. &uot;The school board’s policies can’t cover every possible situation,&uot; said Interim Superintendent Mary Kate Garvin. &uot;That’s something we’ll have our attorney review.&uot;

Garvin said she was not surprised to hear that the girl changed her story, since teachers and students said the girl seemed &uot;happy and carefree&uot; after the incident allegedly happened.

For one-and-a-half weeks, district officials painstakingly looked over all available security tapes and couldn’t find evidence to support the girl’s claims.

&uot;So I felt it was that way from the very beginning, but we weren’t able to say it because it was still being investigated by the sheriff’s office,&uot; said Garvin, who was informed Wednesday that the girl has changed her story.

The whole situation has been damaging to all concerned &045; the three young men and their families, the girl making the accusations and the school district, Garvin said.

&uot;I’m not saying it couldn’t happen in our schools, but we have worked hard to make our schools as safe as possible,&uot; she said. &uot;(The accusations) were a black mark on our district, Š a slap in the face.&uot;

Still, Garvin said she is glad that the girl finally admitted the truth instead of taking the charges to trial.

&uot;I commend her for stepping forward and telling the truth,&uot; she said. &uot;And I hope the boys have the courage to forgive this young lady in their heart.&uot;