CT - High school football players charged with sexually assaulting 13-year-old

[PrairieWind]

I think that is certainly part of it Reader. Once the little movent gets started, other kids just want to be a part of something. They think they are doing something "nobel" against unfair authority. If my kid was in that group I would have a LONG talk about 1) what the law is, and 2) about making choices in life that are smart and thought out. As we saw with Steubenville, just going along with the crowd and not stopping to think about right and wrong did a LOT of damage and has gotten a lot of people in hot water.

 

[Redhead72]

UPDATE!!!

4th high school football player charged with rape in Conn.
USA Today - March 28, 2013 - AP report
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/28/connecticut-football-rape/2028537/
EXCERPT:

The 17-year-old boy from Torrington was charged Wednesday with second-degree assault and risk of injury to a minor in connection with an alleged January incident. Three other Torrington High School football team members were charged with similar crimes within the past two months.

Paraphrasing other info. in article:
The boy's name is being withheld due to his age, and because the charges will be tried through the juvenile court system. The records in this particular case will be sealed. The school district has publicly stated that the boy has been suspended from school as a result of the charges being filed against him.

Links to other reports:
NBC Connecticut:
4th Torrington Football Player Charged with Sex Assault
Police arrested a 17-year-old student Wednesday in connection with an incident in January.
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/...-Teen-Charged-With-Sex-Assault-200326951.html
Excerpt:

Police said they continue to work closely with Torrington's Superintendent of Schools regarding the case and more arrests could happen.
In the wake of the arrests last week, there were allegations of cyber-bullying aimed at a victim. The superintendent warned that inappropriate comments made against a student or staff member could lead to punishment, including possible expulsion.

There are many more links to local news stories, and media outlets that re-ran the AP story via a Google search on "4th Charged Connecticut"

Looks like the school board "woke up" and realized that there were steps that could be taken to address the cyberbullying going on via the classmates...

I highly doubt that this will be the last arrest in relation to this case. The other kids who are organizing the support for the players involved, and encouraging the harassment of the victims should pay close attention. They may have been led to falsely believe that sending tweets or texts or the like couldn't be discovered and prosecuted thanks to the statement by the Superintendent's Assistant. I hope any who are getting involved because it's the "cool thing" right now take a step back and realize they may get more than they bargained for - not attention and acceptance by the "in crowd", but indeed may wind up a part of the "in-carcerated crowd".

 

[PrairieWind]

It does indeed look like the school has "woke up." Previously, one of the other defendants had been charged with felony assault and robbery and yet not only was allowed to remain in school (which is probably best) but also allowed to participate in extracurricular activities (football team). I would like to see this school's activies policies.

 

[HMSHood]

I see that lots of kids from the high school are organizing support for........ the accused football players! I really dont understand the reasoning these kids have regarding these boys and what happened.

I have seen that mentality before. Cough! Penn State! Cough! Steubenville! :crazy:

 

[Caligram]

So, if boys will be boys then those boys need to pay for their crimes. The school needs to extablish some standards for their athletes, no excuses.