MCMINNVILLE, Ore. - Police have charged two middle school students here with first-degree sex abuse charges following an investigation into several youths touching their classmates' private parts.

School officials said the allegations surfaced after a staff member at Patton Middle School saw students spanking the rear-ends of other students on Thursday.

After the staff member reported the issue to school administrators, they and police uncovered what they called "serious activity" that led to the charges. That activity was not described in a press release.

Police said the students involved were between the ages of 12 and 13. Their names were not released.

In a press release issued Monday, school officials said some media have inaccurately reported the students were arrested only for spanking other students rather than alleged sex abuse.

"We commend the students who came forward with the facts in this situation," school officials said in the release.