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

[tlcya]

I hear you Missizzy. But this woman is trying to "answer" the remarks being made. One thing I have learned. If you are right. And there is NO argument in your mind. You don't engage them in debate or answer their flawed logic. Buy engaging, she is lending credance to the idea that ANYTHING that child did, wore, said, mattered.

I think her heart is in the right place, but I get you.

 

[jjenny]

I don't see anything wrong at all with what Ms. Myers said about the child or the family. Especially in response to claims of other people who claimed the child was dressing provocatively, etc.

 

[tlcya]

By engaging in trying to show the good side of the family or the child, by dignifying it with a response is a subtle admission that their point is some sort of mitigatable argument.

None of it matters. If that 11 year old child, who was, from reports from a defense attorney on the case, no less, that these young men KNEW she was underaged, was running down the street begging for it, NONE of it matters. That child was 11 years old. EVEN if she threw hereslf underr them, she is a child! If a child behaves in taht way that would (should be) a huge red flag that this is one very troubled child! Not fair game.

Again though, the woman's heart was in the right place, she merely felt badly that these people she KNEW were being portayed poorly by the perps support group. She just opened the door for debate when the door is locked. no debate here. 11.

 

[Missizzy]

I have no reason to believe that the Children's Impact Center is anything but a positive influence in the community of Cleveland. It sounds as if the director and staff have put a massive amount of work into this center. However, even if this child was very engaged there, she could have come into contact with older boys, teens and men:

http://impactcenter.vpweb.com/Maze-of-Madness.html

We all know a child can be victimized in their own home or classroom. I'm just hoping that this little girl didn't meet her attackers at a place where she went for play and recreation and with her parents' full support. It sure wouldn't be the first time. Our forum is literally full of threads about children who are sexually abused at camps, in sports, in scouts and at church.

 

[tlcya]

Not known yet. There are still many not known yets. Sigh. This one is gonna hurt friends.

 

[jjenny]

Well it might not matter in a legal sense, but clearly some people would judge anyone, even an 11 year old. So I see absolutely nothing wrong with someone saying good things about the child or her family.

 

[tlcya]

I understand. Not trying to be argumentative. This case just really has me riled. Sorry if I came off as combative. I think I will lurk a bit and see what others have to say

 

[Missizzy]

Is anything in Cleveland, TX without controversy? This is an article which mentions the children's center but note the comments which follow (and try to step over the vitriol). There seems to be a number of children's/teen activities to choose from and not everyone is supportive of the center mentioned in the previous article. I'm very hopeful that everyone who works there has been thoroughly vetted, for everyone's sake. One of the comments states that the center's director acts as "an unlicensed psychotherapist". I'm not sure what that means in Texas.

http://www.khou.com/home/Division-a...or-to-much-needed-conversation-117838764.html

 

[Missizzy]

I checked the last couple of pages and I don't see this posted:

http://www.thegrio.com/news/28-may-be-charged-in-11-year-olds-rape.php

"....Cleveland police said the sixth-grade student was assaulted inside an abandoned trailer over the Thanksgiving holiday. Sixteen people have been charged in the case, including four Cleveland High School students who were charged last week with aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.

As many as five juvenile suspects were in court on Monday. Their names were withheld because they are minors. In the 75th District Court, Jamarcus Napper, 18; Jared McPherson, 18; Kelvin King, 21; Marcos Porchia, 26; and Isaiah Ross, 21, appeared before the judge. Ross' attorney said even more names could be added to the suspect list. "I don't know the exact number of people involved. I've heard as many as 28 or more," defense attorney James Evans said.

Evans said Ross is accused of multiple offenses in the case for encounters with the victim dating before the Nov. 28 incident and after..."

and

"...Evans represents four suspects in the case, and said the number of those implicated seems to grow by the day. "Sixteen or 17 who have been arrested and there is additional people who are slated for the grand jury, so I really don't know when it's going to stop...."

more at link (plus video)


And:

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/article_a9147b3a-fc95-5bfe-b89e-1ffb21297f37.html

Updated March 15, 2011

Only four sexual assault suspects remain in jail

"....The sexual assault of the Hispanic child is said to have taken place between September to November 2010. As of Friday, only four of the defendants — Kelvin Rashad King, 21, Eric Bernard McGowen, 19, Marcus Anthony Porchia, 26, and Cedric De Ray Scott, 27, — remained in the Liberty County Jail.

more at link (plus comments)

 

[mysteriew]

Wouldn't it be a conflict of interest for one attorney to represent more than one of the accused?

 

[jjenny]

Wouldn't it be a conflict of interest for one attorney to represent more than one of the accused?

I think it might be, but not in all cases.

 

[Missizzy]

I just spent the last two hours reading through the FB page for the woman and center discussed above. I have to say, very respectfully, that I'm concerned. This woman seems to have been at odds with just about every city official in Cleveland. She seems to have unlimited energy and an unstoppable drive and desire to help the children. She constantly implores the people of Cleveland to support her center and almost every day there is some type of activity; music reviews, talent shows, the building of a huge (very contentious) Fall Maze, holiday parties, sports, work days, etc. Huge amounts of money seem to be asked for, received, and then never seem enough.

I served for ten years on the board of a non-profit children's treatment center and I've surely worked in capitol campaigns and beat the pavement for grants but something seems different here. It seems as if this town's officials are not on board with this program. And in a small town, the officials run the show. Maybe the comment I read about other programs being available in town is true. Maybe some officials don't think this center is needed.

Maybe I'm jaded and all wet but I'm concerned. I'm very hopeful that a woman, trying to do something good for children didn't inadvertently put some in danger. I have the hardest time believing that every person working with these kids has undergone background checks and has full supervision. I'd really like to better understand just how this organization is run, being that this woman has made it clear that the victim and her family is someone she knows and has worked with.

I have to admire her spirit and hard work but I have a strong sense that an awful lot of people of divergent backgrounds and agendas are brought together to work with and for the children. I have a great degree of problem with the children's and the families names being included, as to who is "adopted" and helped. I'm just very concerned that there might not always be the best mix of children, teens, and young adults involved in this endeavor. A children's center, especially one catering to a wide range of ages must be run with rigorous commitment to supervision, safety and oversight. I'm sensing that some of these protections lacking.

My heart is very sad for all the children in Cleveland. It's been a long time since I had a window into this level of acrimony and in-fighting. It's not healthy for the children at all. And in the middle of all this mess, a little girl got hurt.

 

[Missizzy]

I'm still left wondering why on earth it has taken so long--almost 4 months since the last rapes and exactly 6 months since the first reported rapes, to even bring these men in to court. And to have so many bail. Cleveland just cannot be a safe place for any child tonight.

 

[mysteriew]

I'm still left wondering why on earth it has taken so long--almost 4 months since the last rapes and exactly 6 months since the first reported rapes, to even bring these men in to court. And to have so many bail. Cleveland just cannot be a safe place for any child tonight.

According to the paper one of the men has a sexual abuse charge with a minor pending since 2009. So I am not real hopeful on this one.

 

[tlcya]

Wouldn't it be a conflict of interest for one attorney to represent more than one of the accused?

Not so long as the defendants themselves have no concern about it. They may have had to sign a waiver to that effect.

 

[matou]

Anyone who could be called to testify at the trial is barred from talking to the news media about this case.

"The order bars the defendants, attorneys and investigators from disseminating information about the upcoming trial.

It also bars all potential "witnesses" from discussing the case, including parents, siblings, relatives, and foster parents of the parties involved."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20043763-504083.html

 

[mysteriew]

Anyone who could be called to testify at the trial is barred from talking to the news media about this case.

"The order bars the defendants, attorneys and investigators from disseminating information about the upcoming trial.

It also bars all potential "witnesses" from discussing the case, including parents, siblings, relatives, and foster parents of the parties involved."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20043763-504083.html

LOL that will cut down on most of the media coverage. Hopefully it will also kind of calm the controversy some. But it is a small town. Even if the parents aren't talking in the media, they can and probably will talk to neighbors and friends, so the rumors will fly. And rumors can be even worse than media coverage. At least the media tries to get things correct.

 

[matou]

LOL that will cut down on most of the media coverage. Hopefully it will also kind of calm the controversy some. But it is a small town. Even if the parents aren't talking in the media, they can and probably will talk to neighbors and friends, so the rumors will fly. And rumors can be even worse than media coverage. At least the media tries to get things correct.

ITA. On CNN earlier today, a reporter said something about trying to control for people talking at all about any details of the case. I haven't found a link for this yet but I'll post it when I find something.

 

[mysteriew]

ITA. On CNN earlier today, a reporter said something about trying to control for people talking at all about any details of the case. I haven't found a link for this yet but I'll post it when I find something.

That is what the above link is talking about. They tell the parents and other witnesses that they can't talk about it to anyone. But of course they don't see anything wrong with talking to their sisters, brothers and best friends. And of course they are still angry. And of course they don't think that will get back to LE or the court. It only takes talking to one person to start a rumor and that is how the rumors will get out.

 

[believe09]

There should be a gag order and I am glad there is. This child needs to be protected in as many ways as possible.