TX - 21 arrests in gang rapes of 11yo girl, Cleveland, 2010

[believe09]

Can they slap producing/distributing kiddie porn charges on top of the rape charges?

I havent read the thread entirely, but in TX they typically only charge the crime with the most severe penalty, and do not stack on other charges. Unfortunately.

The kiddie porn aspect would likely draw a federal charge I would think, so....

 

[believe09]

God Bless and keep this little girl. It doesnt matter how many men it was...one was too many and no she cannot consent and since she could not drive herself home, yes Mr atty she was enslaved and kidnapped.

I'd best stop now.

 

[mysteriew]

One thing that I haven't heard is whether they gave her alcohol and/or drugs. Of course if it wasn't reported for a couple of days or more they won't be able to test for it. But it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

 

[Missizzy]

I've wondered just how she did get home. There was that comment by the neighbor who saw her standing on the corner late at night. He said she looked "out of place" and I don't know what he meant. I wonder if she called someone to pick her up or walked home. Or did one of her rapists drive her? I'm so hoping that she received medical care. I just can't accept the possibility that she didn't require some.

 

[mysteriew]

I've wondered just how she did get home. There was that comment by the neighbor who saw her standing on the corner late at night. He said she looked "out of place" and I don't know what he meant. I wonder if she called someone to pick her up or walked home. Or did one of her rapists drive her? I'm so hoping that she received medical care. I just can't accept the possibility that she didn't require some.

Good point about how she got home. I don't know, I haven't seen that in any of the articles. As far as medical care, I would guess she didn't. Surely if an 11 year old showed up at the doctor with those types of complaints it would have instigated an investigation.

What are the chances that at least one of the suspects had an STD? I mean these guys are pretty much pond scum, and it makes me wonder.

I also wondered if there was any possibility that she could get pregnant? I know she is only 11, but there have been other cases.....

 

[Missizzy]

There are some "reasonable" comments by locals here. Interesting to note that there was a similar incident in the late 80s involving some of the accused men's relatives. I'm very concerned that there's a certain mindset of looking the other way for star athletes in this community by some:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/clev...11e0-b60c-001cc4c03286.html#user-comment-area


Also, I wonder exactly what this particular line in this article means:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/article_8abd1eee-46af-11e0-b60c-001cc4c03286.html

"...Once legal proceedings and due process have occurred, the Cleveland Independent School District will take the necessary administrative actions that will follow the 2010-2011 student and employee code of conduct...."

more at link


Reading between the lines, is this implying that other students and staff members did not report this crime, covered up some facts, or were involved in some other capacity?

 

[Missizzy]

I'm sure once the authorities were finally informed, she was whisked away to a full medical exam, STD and pregnancy testing, and mental health trauma assessment. She is most likely getting frequent therapy, at least weekly, concerning these issues.

It's interesting that a number of commenters at the link I provided above also bring up an issue of great interest to me. They discuss why young people don't fully know the law. There's debate about who should provide it, though.

FWIW, the laws concerning consent and the penalties attached are not the easiest to access nor to analyze state by state. Internet sites are often out of date and I've found that sex ed teachers often don't have the most current laws. I have a good friend who's a DA and I've often called her directly to ask a specific question. She doesn't even know the answers immediately and has to talk to staff and do some research. I can't tell you the times the answer has come back that "it's a grey area of the law".

Obviously, this particular case does not fall within any grey areas. But my point is that I'm a child advocate who takes a special interest in our laws concerning sexuality and who has access to some people who should have the answers and I'm still often confused.

What does that tell us of teens and their confusion? IMO, we do a whole lot better at educating concerning child safety seats and texting while driving. Our children deserve the facts, plain and simple....as the laws affect their lives.

 

[matou]

I just read this story and I feel sick. Every movie I have evre seen that dealt with this type of subject matter has left a mark on me and to know this has happened to a little girl by at least 18 rapists horrifies me. Have we become a society of sadists a la Marquis de Sade libertines who can objectify little girls to the lowest scale possible???? (Not talking about us) These men/boys/rapists all hate women, it is clear. The fact that they have supporters and these people are casting stones at this little girl is disgusting. If they have been named, then they have been identified by the victim and are likely on video. This girl was likely the only female in a situation with older men and boys who ordered her to take her clothes off. She was probalby incredibly intimidated and afraid through this entire ordeal. She is likely feeling intense shame for the behaviour that was placed on HER. The people who should feel shame are the perps and their supporters, but I doubt they feel that way. They felt entitled to raping this girl, she was an object to them, an object to be shared by their ****** ** friends.

I had to deal with a situation at my high school (I'm a teacher) when a student revealed to her friend that she had been forwarded a video of a girl with two boys having sex in a stairwell. She said the girl was 15 years old. This video was being forwarded to a lot of people. I told her to delete the file immediately and to not forward or accept the file again or any like it. I actually stopped teaching my lesson and shifted everything around this issue of file sharing which in Canada, constitutes child porn (the girl is 15) and possession and distribution of CP.

This is making me sick. This file sharing thing is out of control (besides the obvious hatred against women) I get the impression that the girl was recongnized in the video and then someone came forward to identify people (perps and victims) in this case.

 

[mysteriew]

There are some "reasonable" comments by locals here. Interesting to note that there was a similar incident in the late 80s involving some of the accused men's relatives. I'm very concerned that there's a certain mindset of looking the other way for star athletes in this community by some:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/clev...11e0-b60c-001cc4c03286.html#user-comment-area


Also, I wonder exactly what this particular line in this article means:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/article_8abd1eee-46af-11e0-b60c-001cc4c03286.html

"...Once legal proceedings and due process have occurred, the Cleveland Independent School District will take the necessary administrative actions that will follow the 2010-2011 student and employee code of conduct...."

more at link


Reading between the lines, is this implying that other students and staff members did not report this crime, covered up some facts, or were involved in some other capacity?

As far as the school comment, it has been reported that the pics and vids went viral at the school. But only one kid allegedly reported it. Which means a lot of the kids were receiving, sending and possessing child porn. Not only is that an illegal act that the kids could be held accountable for, it is an issue the school will have to deal with. Could they suspend the whole student body? Or would that even be a suitable punishment?

Did the teachers/staff know what was happening? Good question.

As far as the kids knowing the statutory law, I knew when I was a teen. And I notice my son (who is now a teen) knows it too. I think most kids know the law, but will they listen to it? This one however IMO goes beyond the statutory laws. No matter how you look at it, there is the statutory issues, the group issues, the forced issues.... I think it has more to do with the gang mentality than anything else.

 

[tlcya]

I assumed the school was commenting on possible future disciplinary action such as ousting accused athletes from their teams and extracuricular activities, etc.

I took it to mean, "we are taking no action at this time till the students in question have been given due process through the legal system and then, we will decide what, if any, action needs taken here at school. Whatever action may be taken in future will be dictated by our long standing school discplinary code/manual."

 

[WhyaDuck?]

I have a sinking feeling that this case will get the "boys will be boys" treatment in court.

 

[MorenoI]

Horrible. I feel for this child. Children at that age feel a great need to be loved and wanted. I remember those days, your body is going through so many emotions and changes.

She is a child no matter what and is not capable of making adult decisions!!

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

Has this article been posted yet? I found it quite thorough:

http://130.80.29.3/disp/story.mpl/front/7459716.html

 

[peeples]

Has this article been posted yet? I found it quite thorough:

http://130.80.29.3/disp/story.mpl/front/7459716.html

Yeah it has, but it's a good one!

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

I've seen several reports that she had a Facebook page that listed her interests as "smoking, drinking and sex". <modsnip>
I do agree that rape is rape is rape when it comes to an 11 year old. But playing devil's advocate, if you have, say, a 14 year old boy who has never met/heard of the victim, truly believes she is 15 or 16 (and she looks/acts it), believes it to be one big old gross gang bang party and doesn't think he is doing something illegal...I don't know...it almost seems like a tragedy for him as well.

If that is the case for some of these idiot boys then, so help me God, I do sort of feel bad that their stupidity is going to haunt them the rest of their lives.

 

[matou]

I doubt these boys/men/rapists will feel bad or feel that they did anything stupid at all. I think they felt entitled to forcing sex on this girl. They called each other and probably called her a 'Ho' etc. They probably high-fived each other after each act. This story is going to make me very negative for awhile. JMO

 

[lonetraveler]

Sounds like this entire town needs a good slap in the face or maybe a good boot you know where..... What in the heck is wrong with people when basketball players become more important then a girl that has been raped :furious:

Sad to say mysticrose, but this country has shown many times that a star athelete is way more important than the rape victim they leave behind.

 

[lonetraveler]

I've seen several reports that she had a Facebook page that listed her interests as "smoking, drinking and sex".<modsnip>
I do agree that rape is rape is rape when it comes to an 11 year old. But playing devil's advocate, if you have, say, a 14 year old boy who has never met/heard of the victim, truly believes she is 15 or 16 (and she looks/acts it), believes it to be one big old gross gang bang party and doesn't think he is doing something illegal...I don't know...it almost seems like a tragedy for him as well.

If that is the case for some of these idiot boys then, so help me God, I do sort of feel bad that their stupidity is going to haunt them the rest of their lives.

How on earth could these twenty eight or more males could think that it was ok to all just stand in line and perform sex on this young girl?????????? and video tape it.............and then be insulted to be charged with raping an 11 yr. old girl????????????????? Even a older and wiser prostitute ganged raped like this should be prosecuted. Many young girls try to act and look older. These thugs knew that this girl was in Middle school. And the parents of these thugs should be ashamed of themselves and their offspring. This case should disgust and enrage every parent at what this girl was subjected to. Totally unacceptable IMO.:banghead::banghead::banghead: She was totally taken advantage of due to her youth.

 

[lonetraveler]

I have a sinking feeling that this case will get the "boys will be boys" treatment in court.

This case is already getting the "boys will be boys" treatment and the victim is being condemned and demonized.:banghead:

 

[lonetraveler]

There was NOT one big group or gang. They were in small groups that heard about the 'opportunity' and they rushed over to take part. DESPICABLE imo.

Correct! These individuals had plenty of time to think about what they were about to do. They all seemed not to have a problem with "taking a number". :maddening: