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

[wfgodot]

Yes, agreed, she liked walking through the Check and met them there, in the neighborhood, according to the Dobie piece above.

 

[Missizzy]

Early on, I did a bunch of research on a children's center in town which was loved by some and not so much by others. The director seemed to do an awful lot of mixing of ages in her planned activities for the kids ie clean up days, sports events, fashion shows and a Halloween maze. It might be taken down now but there were lots photos of preteen girls hanging out with older guys. Might be nothing.

 

[krimekat]

R was often seen out and about in Trails End, sometimes walking and talking with her little brother, sometimes wandering alone. <snipped> A neighbor named José says she was always smiling, always talkative. When he spoke to her about boys, "she told me she didn't like Mexicans, she only liked blacks." In fact, she told him Mexicans were ugly, but said it so lightly that José couldn't help but grin at the memory. It was like being swatted by a kitten.

According to her sister Elisa, "R's actually ashamed to be Mexican." Anna adds, "Yeah, she thinks she's black." Their father, Juan, dislikes black men&#8212;"They're lazy, and I don't know why they exist," he says&#8212;so R told him she was going to marry one.

In June, R joined Facebook and fell hard for James, a 20-year-old man from Houston, and began a Facebook/texting/cell-phone relationship that was largely imaginary. "I lovee youu!" she told him over and over again. "Yuur mhyy ee'rythinqq!" James, a curiously childlike man, occasionally replied to her passionate declarations with an "Ily 2" or "te amo sweetie," letting R's feelings bloom and fester with no need for further encouragement.

from the GQ article . . . 11 year old rebelling against her father? Her family/community? And on FB? Really? A 20 year old WTH?

 

[Missizzy]

krimekat--Do you have a link for that? Are they truly using the child's name?

 

[jjenny]

krimekat--Do you have a link for that? Are they truly using the child's name?

I believe it's a pseudo-name, not her real name.

 

[Missizzy]

It worried me as I believe that's the real name of her father. Surely, they wouldn't use the child's name. I looked upthread and see the link now. Thanks. A bit dim today.

 

[Salem]

It worried me as I believe that's the real name of her father. Surely, they wouldn't use the child's name. I looked upthread and see the link now. Thanks. A bit dim today.

Hi Missizzy - the article changed the child's real name to a fake name. I think the other family members' names are used. I did go ahead and change the name to initials, just because it helps me remember to be consistent

Salem

 

[sreshowtime]

that is one of the saddest things I have ever read...like a fictional story ..BUT it is true..oh my, that poor kid never stood a chance...I hope one day she will be strong and whole

 

[Missizzy]

I read the article. So sad. There's a note that the girl's name and her siblings' names have been changed. IIRC, though, there was a photo early on of the child's home and her parents' real names are used. How hard could it be for anyone to identify this child? I think I ran across her within the first few days, looking at community center photos. What a tragedy.

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/...a_Deal_In_Texas_Gang_Rape_Case_134941143.html

Third Juvenile Accepts Plea Deal In Texas Gang Rape Case
December 2, 2011

"Liberty County Court-at-Law Judge Tommy Chambers has accepted a plea deal from a third juvenile who&#8217;s among the 20 men and juveniles accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old Cleveland girl..."

and

"....Chambers approved plea agreements for two other juvenile boys last month. Details of the agreements were not disclosed because the boys are minors. Fourteen adults and three more juveniles face assault and abuse charges in the alleged 2010 incidents in an abandoned trailer and a home in Cleveland..."

and

"...The 14 adults were set to appear in court in Liberty on Monday."

More at link


A worrisome side-note article about the same terrible crime, same town...but with different players and different victim:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...-official-s-children-charged-with-2282684.php

Cleveland school official's children charged with lying about rape

"Liberty County sheriff's detectives have arrested two children of the Cleveland Independent School District board president for allegedly lying to police about an alcohol-fueled party at their home where a teenage girl says she was raped, authorities said.

Capt. Rex Evans with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office said detectives arrested Kyle Lee Lewis, 20, and Rachel Leigh Lewis, 17, Monday on a misdemeanor charge of false reporting. The siblings, children of board president Lloyd T. Lewis, hosted a party while their parents were out of town Nov. 9, Evans said. "Evidently Kyle and Rachel invited several people over, and several people grew into more people and more people," Evans said, adding that alcohol was consumed at the party. He said authorities received a 911 call that night from a neighbor who said a young woman knocked on her door, half-dressed and distraught, saying she had been raped. "You can clearly hear (the victim) in the background, very distraught, very upset, indicating that she had been raped..."

and

"..."Everybody that is not being truthful with us is facing a criminal charge for making a false statement..."

More at link

 

[fhc]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45888131/ns/local_news-houston_tx/#.TwYGTjXOUVQ

The first trials for more than a dozen men accused in a series of sexual assaults on an 11-year-old Liberty County girl may happen in March. Fourteen men and six boys are accused of the sexual assault in the small town of Cleveland, Texas. Eleven of the men appeared in state court Thursday for status updates. Their cases were reset for Feb. 6, but prosecutor Joe Warren said the first trials could be in March.

http://www.khou.com/home/Mom-of-Cle...ant-really-provide-for-my-kids-136699888.html

"I can&#8217;t really provide for my kids," she said. "You could look at my refrigerator and there is no food either. I just want to give up."
Maria has no income. A brain tumor, blackouts and pain keep her out of work. Then last month, Maria lost Medicaid coverage and, with it, her ability to pay for surgery. She was evicted from her home and forced to move her three young children into a relative&#8217;s apartment.&#12288;

 

[MorenoI]

I feel for this mom, it must feel awful not to be able to provide for her children, with one already in foster care. I hope there is some organization out there that can help her get back on her feet. Also if I recall she had a husband, wonder what happened to him?

JMO

 

[Belinda]

Wow. What a sad story. That poor woman. There must be someone who can help her. I wonder why she lost her Medicaid? Sending good vibes and positive thoughts her way. My heart just breaks for her.

 

[MsFacetious]

Wow. What a sad story. That poor woman. There must be someone who can help her. I wonder why she lost her Medicaid? Sending good vibes and positive thoughts her way. My heart just breaks for her.

I know in a lot of areas Medicaid is really only covering kids or pregnant women... you would think cancer would also qualify... but she might have to fight for it. Doesn't sound like this woman has it in her to fight.

 

[JeannaT]

L-o-n-g and interesting GQ article about the case, by Kathy Dobie, well worth a read:

The Girl from Trails End

the rest at link above

VERY well-worth the read, thanks wfgodot. It's long, but not a difficult read. Very well-written, you really get the absolute complete picture about what happened to this child, as well as the community reactions.

 

[Missizzy]

I want to believe the best of folks...I really do. But did this young man truly feel sick when he learned the victim was 11--because she was 11 or because he suddenly realized the consequences? Would he have found this crime less sickening if the victim was 14? I have a very hard time believing that anyone could have thought she was much older.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/Teen...-old-Cleveland-girls-gang-rape-137827169.html

Teen admits role in 11-year-old Cleveland girl&#8217;s gang rape
January 21, 2012

"A southeast Texas teen has admitted his role in the attack of an 11-year-old girl that 14 men are also accused of sexually assaulting. Authorities say the youth, whose name was withheld, was 16 years old then. Investigator Chad Langdon testified Friday that the teen was the most remorseful of the 20 defendants.

The girl was assaulted six times in Cleveland, Texas, over a four-month period in 2010.
Although Langdon said the girl told them the youth did not force her, she&#8217;s not old enough to legally give consent. The Houston Chronicle reports that the teen said he did not know she was only 11 and was sickened when he found out...."


More at link

 

[JeannaT]

The trial of the first accused rapist is underway.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/1st-trial-to-begin-in-alleged-rapes-of-Cleveland-girl-167836335.html

 

[jjenny]

"Update: Authorities are searching for Eric McGowen, on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old Cleveland girl, after he did not return to a courtroom during a break in the trial. There was a break in the trial just before 4 p.m. The defendant, however, did not return. The trial is continuing without him. He had been out of jail on the charges after posting bail."


http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...trial-in-Cleveland-gang-rape-case-3824790.php

 

[wfgodot]

.....

The Associated Press &#8207;@AP
BREAKING: Texas man convicted in first trial to stem from alleged repeated sexual assault of girl

 

[jjenny]

They will have to find him first.