BOWIE (Special) - A 17-year-old Bowie man has been charged in a spanking incident at Bowie High School, and four teens were issued misdemeanor citations in the case.

Bowie Police Investigator Guy Green said Thomas Cunningham turned himself in this week. He was charged on two counts of unlawful restraint and two counts of assault - bodily injury. Bonds totaled $16,000.

Cunningham and five other teenagers are accused of taking three teenaged girls from the high school against their will and assaulting them with belts and a paddle while they were held by others.

One 16-year-old juvenile is being sought for similar charges.

Three other young men, age 17, were issued citations for misdemeanor Class C assault. They are: Stoney Shoefstall, David Wilson and Jacob Richardson. A misdemeanor citation also was issued to another 16-year- old juvenile.

Police said this was a case of teenage boys bullying fellow students.

School Resource Officer Bob Blackburn said the girls said there were no sexual overtones in the incidents, but they had been told something worse would happen if they reported it. The girls told police at first they took it as play.

He said school administrators are pursuing expulsion of the teens and looking at ways to improve security on the campus.