The two 13-year-old boys in trouble for allegedly spanking girls at school have received more than $41,000 in donations to help pay for their defense.

Most of the checks have come from strangers around the country who have heard about the case on talk radio, cable television news or the internet.

More: Spanking case will go to trial

“We could not have gone this far without it,” said Tracie Mashburn, the mother of one of the boys.

Kgw.com is not identifying the boys because they are minors.

KGW photo

The teens were charged with sexual abuse in February after at least five girls told police the boys touched them inappropriately. Some girls said they were grabbed and poked in their breasts while also being spanked.

They are set to go on trial for sexual harassment next week.

The more serious sexual abuse charges were dismissed during a four-day pre-trial hearing. Defense attorneys for the boys argued to have the boys’ confessions made to police thrown out as evidence.

“Each day probably cost the families six to seven thousand dollars,” said J. Mark Lawrence, the defense attorney for one of the boys.

The McMinnville attorney said he has never worked on such a high-profile case.

Lawrence and his client have been interviewed by hundreds of radio stations and they have appeared on more than a dozen national news shows.

“This has really struck a nerve,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence argued in Yamhill County Court this week to have the remaining charges dismissed. That would have spared the boys a trial, and saved their parents a lot of money.

“We actually had hopes the case would settle earlier on so the boys would have some money for a trust fund for college. We still hope that can happen,” said Lawrence.