Four Teens Facing Charges For Gang Rape Of Mentally Disabled Girl At A Miami High School
Four male high school students are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the gang rape of a mentally disabled girl. According to NBC News, the disturbing incident took place back in January at North Miami Senior High School.
The four teenagers have been identified as Derek Bynum, 18; Kenoldo Alexis and David Lombard, both 17; and Akeem Joseph, 15. One of the boys allegedly manipulated the mentally challenged girl by telling her she was pretty. She was reportedly asked to follow the boy and was lured into a janitor’s closet.
Once inside, he locked the door and turned off the lights. Then, three of the other boys entered the closet and gang-raped the unnamed victim, according to the police report. Although she was sworn to secrecy, a security guard saw her leaving the closet with the boys and asked what happened. According to the Miami Herald, she informed the Miami-Dade school police about the horrific series of events that took place inside the janitor’s closet, stating that the boys “forced her to perform oral, anal and vaginal sex acts.”
However, Lombard’s attorney Matthew Ladd insists the allegations are only part of the discovery process, which is being conducted to determine whether the allegations are factual. “The discovery process is ongoing. We’re trying to get to the bottom of what, if anything, happened — and all the clients remain and are presumed innocent,” said Ladd.
Although the boys are “presumed innocent” until proven guilty, the Miami-Dade County School District is still taking the allegations very seriously. Students and faculty have been left quite shaken by the disturbing allegations, so safety is a top priority that the school district is working diligently to perfect. On Thursday, June 25, Miami-Dade County Public Schools spokeswoman Daisy Gonzalez-Diego released a statement on behalf of the school district regarding the incident and heightened safety protocols that will be enforced for the upcoming school year, reports the Local 10.
“The safety and security of our students and staff represent one of our top priorities,” Gonzalez-Diego said. “While we struggle to understand the senseless depravity of this isolated but disturbing student incident, we commend the deliberate and swift actions of Miami-Dade Schools Police in apprehending the alleged perpetrators. Our thoughts continue to be with the victim and her family. While it is nearly impossible to prevent isolated incidents, a clear understanding and review of all surrounding circumstances is undertaken to further perfect safety and security protocols.”
The four teens all face charges of felony sexual battery charges on a person with mental disabilities. However, Lombard could face additional charges for battery.
[Image(s) via YouTube Screen Capture]
