December 2, 2009 10:09 AM

Richmond High Gang Rape: Six Plead Not Guilty to Raping Teen While Others Watched

By
Edecio Martinez
Topics
Daily Blotter
(AP Images)
Photo: Police cars sit parked outside Richmond High School on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Richmond, Calif.

RICHMOND, Calif. (CBS/AP) Prosecutors say at least six young men, some not even old enough to drive, raped and beat a 15-year-old girl outside Richmond High School in California while others watched, laughed, and took cell phone pictures.

Now, the six defendants, ranging in age from 15 to 21, have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. They entered their pleas to rape and other charges Tuesday morning in Contra Costa County Superior Court.

(AP Photo/Richmond Police Department)
Photo: Manuel Ortega, 19, one of six who pled not guilty to gang-raping teen.

The juveniles — 15-year-old Cody Ray Smith, 16-year-old Ari Morales and 17-year-old Marcelles Peter — are being charged as adults. The other defendants are Jose Montano, Manuel Ortega and Elvis Torrentes.

Authorities say they participated in the gang rape outside Richmond High School's homecoming dance on Oct. 24, 2009.

Investigators believe as many as 10 people raped the victim, while another 20 or so watched without calling police.

The victim of the homecoming gang-rape spoke out Nov. 3 in a written statement, which was read at a rally and candlelight vigil.

"We realize people are angry about this," the statement said. "But let the anger cause change; change that is necessary to keep our children, our neighbors and our friends safe. We thank everyone for their love, support and ongoing prayers."

All defendants are due back in court on Jan. 21 to set a date for their preliminary hearings.

MORE ON CRMESIDER
November 5, 2009 - While Dozens Gawked at Richmond Rape, One Brave Girl Called 911
October 30, 2009 - Will Richmond High Gang Rape Gawkers Go Free?
October 29, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang-Rape: 4 Teens Charged Could Face Life in Prison
October 28, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang Rape: Three More Arrests in Homecoming Attack
October 27, 2009 - Richmond High School Gang-Rape in California: Others Watched and Did Nothing, Say Cops


Add a Comment See all 22 Comments
by iceprincesss85 August 4, 2010 5:12 PM EDT
like icky mauve is so yesterday mauve is so out pink is in, pink is like the new mauve. so think again.
Reply to this comment
by darwufche December 3, 2009 12:38 PM EST
Stupid idiots. Let 'em rot in jail for rest of their lives and experience what being raped over and over is like.
Reply to this comment
by gthinkfrog December 3, 2009 10:31 AM EST
others watched, laughed, and took cell phone pictures.

How about charging the idiots that were watching and taking pictures with the making and possesion of child pornography.
Reply to this comment
by bubbadubba December 3, 2009 10:27 AM EST
Let them go, they all came from broken homes,are addicted to sex, they were abused, they have ADD and Autism, and are too young to know what they doing.
There, now pay me $ 1,000,000 in taxpayer supported legal fees after they are set free to do it again.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 December 3, 2009 10:24 PM EST
If you get the job as their attorney, then argue that case.

If you are successful, you will have earned the money.

Otherwise take your spew and speak into the "microphone".
by idontbuyit December 3, 2009 3:51 AM EST
straight sick. where has the innocence gone? children are no longer "children" these days and we wonder why? this once blessed country's youth are now becoming hardened thugs before they've even left their diapers and yet how can they alone be to blame? what is going on with parents??? what will it take to get more responsible parents and less ignorant breeders to guide and protect their offspring in this country? these "children" did not become this way on their own, and yet our legal system's answer to such conduct is no better in addressing the problem by charging youths as adults. how can we "house" or shelve the problem and think that THIS is the solution? (guess they still haven't gotten the memo on the OVERCROWDING CRISIS among other things). so typical. "out of sight, out of mind." all at the taxpayers' expense. lovely. we're ALL to blame for this. WE ALL need to be more proactive in getting involved in the welfare of our youth, even if they are not our own. it's evident the actions of another's youth effect us all, especially if you have children of your own you know this to be true, therefore shouldn't WE do something about it to care for them even if their parents are completely out-to-lunch and failing them? the public should be unified in getting at the root of the problem and holding parents accountable for their children before the rest of us get more rotten apples falling from their tree. if adults (oh, yeah--it's been the growing norm in this country for CHILDREN TO HAVE CHILDREN too--cute.) can't handle children, then they shouldn't be procreating, period. it wouldn't surprise me to learn that this is in fact that very generation that is responsible for the lost youths we now grapple with as adults. the remedy? it's all about PREVENTION and not trying to capture and control the wild horse after its left the stable. they're still children--if we can call them that even in this case--and we have to remember that. let the punishment be *proportionate* to the crime (whatever that might be). condemnation is not the answer however for any youth, but a fitting punishment and a chance to reform oneself---something clearly not instilled in them nor exercised by their parents from the start.
Reply to this comment
by SusanStoHelit December 3, 2009 1:46 PM EST
Youth violence has been going down for decades. If we're doing anything - we're doing something right.

Fact is - it's because these crimes are rare that we now care about them. Because we don't have so much crime that we can't deal with it, that we actually look for more crime to deal with. And because the Internet shows you every little bit, especially the worst of it, it feels like there is more - but fact is, reality is - there is less.
by sean56v December 2, 2009 2:27 PM EST
Young homosexuals believe that beatings and sexual assaults jump-in new gang members. This could be a case where initiation became violent and sexually-abusive.
Reply to this comment
by seappell December 2, 2009 4:18 PM EST
What does this even mean? You think that the young men were homosexuals trying to join a gay gang and their jump-in initiation turned into raping and beating a 15-year-old girl? Seriously? Are you just throwing out the conservative scare-term of the day? "Illegals," "homosexuals"... next thing you know someone will accuse the rapists of being (gasp) liberals! I would love to hear your explanation of your comment.
by Brokennews December 2, 2009 5:15 PM EST
Gay Gangbanger?? Has a catchy ring to it!

Bloods wear red, Crips wear blue and I guess they'll wear mauve.

"Does this .38 in my waste band make my azs look big?"
See all 4 Replies
by lileoj December 2, 2009 2:19 PM EST
Drag these POS's to a super max prison and let the population run a train on everyone of them. Let them feel what it felt like for the 15 year old. Then drag them out back and cut there &*^&'s off and spend a few years being someones lil girl in prison.
Reply to this comment
by earthling76 December 2, 2009 5:54 PM EST
Throw those twenty perverts that hung around watching in their with them.
by brianbwb-2009 December 3, 2009 10:25 PM EST
Your "prescription" suggests you are not much different than the perpetrators.
by excop1949 December 2, 2009 12:05 PM EST
"That's not me on that videotape..."
Reply to this comment
by jimbob133 December 2, 2009 10:54 AM EST
How many were illegals. Oh thats right if your born hear your not illegal just your parents.
Reply to this comment
by I_am_me1953 December 2, 2009 3:23 PM EST
I wonder how many of these "illegals" you are speaking of know the difference between "here" and "hear"?
by dagrandma December 2, 2009 5:12 PM EST
Oh yeah, only red blooded American-born men are allowed the rape school girls, right?????
See all 22 Comments
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