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October 29, 2009 6:03 PM

Richmond High School Gang-Rape: Suspects Wear Bulletproof Vests at California Arraignment

Posted by Ryan Smith
(AP Photo )
Photo: Two students walk next to a sign about violence at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.

RICHMOND, Calif. (CBS/AP) They were wearing bulletproof vests and flanked by deputies.

Quite a change for suspects Cody Ray Smith, 15, Ari Abdallah Morales, 16, and Marcelles James Peter, 17, who all now face charges in the alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside her northern California high school's homecoming dance.

They were arraigned in Contra Costa County Superior Court Thursday, and charged as adults because of the severity of the crime, said prosecutor Dana Cashman.

They could face life in prison.

Smith pleaded not guilty, while Morales and Peter did not enter a plea. 19-year-old Manuel Ortega was arraigned separately and also entered no plea.

Another suspect, Salvador Rodriguez, 21, also remained jailed but has not been charged.

Police say as many as ten people ranging in age from 15 to their mid-20s attacked the girl for more than two hours at a dimly lit area Saturday night.

(AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The picnic area at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif. where police said a 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped and beaten.

The girl left the dance, police say, and was walking to meet her father for a ride home when a classmate invited her to join a group drinking in the school courtyard before the alleged assault began. The victim had a large amount of alcohol by that time, police said.

Compounding the vicious attack, Richmond, Calif. police say nearly two dozen people saw the rape without reporting it.

Officers found the girl after receiving a tip about a possible assault on campus, and found the girl semi-conscious near a picnic table.

The victim was released from a hospital Wednesday.

Suspects Smith, Morales and Peter were each charged with rape-in-concert and sexual penetration with a foreign object, along with special circumstances that could make them eligible for a life sentence.

Police said they're still looking for more suspects in the Saturday night attack. They're hoping a $20,000 reward will help flush out more information.


MORE ON CRMESIDER
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

More at CBS Affiliate CBS 5
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Add a Comment See all 63 Comments
by IcepickAM3 November 21, 2009 4:10 PM EST
I would be wonderful to have more education that focuses on understanding and empathizing with other people. If we do that, I think we'll have much less of this kind of terrible violence.

Of course, I also have an emotional reaction to this - first fear and feeling upset, then anger. I'd be lying if I denied having a desire to see the perpetrators executed in front of the student body.

Still, decisions must be made with compassion, and an understanding of the full situation. I hope everyone is dealing with this terrible incident skillfully.
Reply to this comment
by stayAU November 1, 2009 10:01 PM EST
Think about what you just said. Is our society less violent than the past because we did use the death penalty? If you get rid of people who have violent sociopathic tendencies you get rid of violence and you no longer have a people that may become violent as a result of the victimization of that offender. I am against rape in prison I think prison should be held up to the same moral standards as society on the outside. Sociopathy is not a moral weakness of the spirit. Something is missing in their brain and there is no cure. No amount of praying, rehab, or church is going to change them. They get out and reoffend. The only problem with the death penalty is if they are innocent. I don't think there are many doubts who the offenders are in this crime. If these young psycho paths get out of prison, they will re offend. May be not rape but maybe murder or maybe rape and murder. Phxfire you obviously have not been a victim of a psychopath.
Reply to this comment
by robzm19 November 2, 2009 8:27 AM EST
Using the death penalty isnt the issue. Sociological studies show the safest states in the us have outlawed the death penalty. The next safest states have used it minimally. The most dangerous states have used it often, pretty interesting isn't it.
by stayAU November 1, 2009 6:58 PM EST
WHO IS TALKING ABOUT THIS GIRL BEING INTOXICATED! You should be able to walk down the street NUDE! and a PROSTIUTE and this kinda thing not happen! THIS IS the United States! NOT SAUDI ARABIA, AFRICA, OR SAN SALVADOR! You know what the CHEROKEE USE TO DO TO PEOPLE WHO RAPED CHILDREN AND WOMEN! PUSH them off a cliff like the one in Yosemite!
Reply to this comment
by stayAU November 1, 2009 6:50 PM EST
WHO IS TALKING ABOUT THIS GIRL BEING INTOXICATED! You should be able to walk down the street NUDE! and a PROSTIUTE and this kinda thing not happen! THIS IS AMERICA NOT SAUDI ARABIA, AFRICA, OR SAN SALVADOR! You know what the CHEROKEE USE TO DO TO PEOPLE WHO RAPED CHILDREN AND WOMEN! PUSH them off a cliff like the one Yosemite!
Reply to this comment
by Virgil-1 November 1, 2009 2:47 PM EST
If there's nothing wrong with rape,why are they wearing bulletproof
vests and flanked by deputies?(sarcasm)!Theres got to be a Psychologist somewhere that has the answer as to why these poor
defenceless victims of society be given some sort of pill and let go.(more sarcasm)!!!
Reply to this comment
by askagain November 1, 2009 3:44 PM EST
The bullet proof vests and police next to them has nothing to do with rape not being wrong. The guys have been arrested and precautions must be taken by the authorities. Presumably, the authorities don't want anything to happen to these guys under their watch. This would not imply a crime is okay.
by debinok1 November 1, 2009 1:50 PM EST
Welcome to the world we live in. Special thanks to Child Protective Services for denying a parent the right to swat their child for acting out or throwing a fit when they did not get their way. These young adults are the direct result of the Government/State having more control over how a child is disciplined than the parents do. Discipline is not abuse, it should not be lumped into the same category. A child must be taught right from wrong at an early age, discipline is part of that. Put corporal punishment back in the homes and back in the schools, the children who grew up without it are showing us how badly they needed it.
Reply to this comment
by mygirl24 November 1, 2009 4:59 PM EST
You should avoid blaming Child Protective Services for your lack of parenting skills :)
by Phxfire November 1, 2009 1:42 PM EST
In my opinion, the biggest monsters in this case are the parents of the attackers and the watchers who did nothing to stop or even report the attack. Second, the laughable security. What kind of parent role models did any of this kids have that left them so numb to violence?
Reply to this comment
by askagain November 1, 2009 12:26 PM EST
sandy19731 - Good point. If the girl had used better judgment and discretion, the rape may never have happened. Having said that, no one has a right to violate another person. These violators are not tots. Why weren't they taught to keep their hands to themselves? We can not expect everyone to be brilliant, but this concept is rather basic and doesn't require much intelligence. In cases such as this one, we need to bring back the practice of "hard labor" so violators can at least pay for their incarceration. One thing we know, they will receive free health care at the expense of our society.
Reply to this comment
by Phxfire November 1, 2009 1:40 PM EST
Judgment and discretion comes with age and maturity, this girl had not reached that level so to even hint that she was in some way at fault is obscene.
by askagain November 1, 2009 3:41 PM EST
Phxfire - Read my post. I never blamed the girl but simply stated something that should be obvious to a reasonable person. People often unwittingly put themselves in danger. An underage person drinking with strangers is a good example. Combine a group of young people, a dark night, and irresponsible drinking and you have the potential for disaster. There is no doubt that the boys should known better and act differently, If this was rape, these guys were at fault and had no right to violate another person. Comprehend what you are reading before you jump.
by 6591Hou November 1, 2009 10:56 AM EST
When our society and culture do not support moral conduct, respect, but instead glorifies personal gratification, wealth, then we end up with our children feeling that if it feels good then they should do it, if they want something then they should get it, and if it feels good and they want it then they should take it.

Being capable of bearing children does not equate to being a parent, to properly raise a child you have to have an interest in influencing their moral compass and expanding their intellectual capabilities. Moral compasses are what enables the child to know right from wrong and to steer their lives.

The Victorians treated their children like little adults, seen but not heard etc. They didn't want to be entangled with dealing with them. We drop our kids off at functions, practices, malls, etc. to let them go do what they want to go do so that we can do what we want to go do - there is no parenting in that.

Pandering to the lower appetites of the masses ensures that music, video games, television, and the internet will be packed with pornography, violence, and drugs - until our society recognizes the effects of that flood on our culture and the need to control it, we will continue to hear sad stories like this - shake our heads - and continue on without changing anything or preventing it from happening again.
Reply to this comment
by Dadgumgerman November 1, 2009 8:32 AM EST
LegacyABQ2 is absolutely right, rap music IS a factor, and it is propaganda of sleaze, violence and profanity that kids are taking into their psyches. It's too late I guess, because nothing stops the almighty dollars being made by the trashy fad. If we are to win a conflict in the Middle East, we must prove to the peoples there that democracy can be proper, and a safer alternative than what they once had.
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by michigander62 November 1, 2009 7:52 AM EST
The heck with vests there are always head shots.
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by whitneyl99 November 1, 2009 5:23 AM EST
To rape and execute every single one of the boys that committed this crime would most definitely not be cruel and unusual punishment, as what they did to their victim was more than cruel, and more than unusual, they have effectively killed her while she still lives.

If she can make it past this incident, even with the deepest emotional scars, she will be one strong woman.

It's sociopaths like those that make me support the death penalty to the fullest extent.
Reply to this comment
by Phxfire November 1, 2009 1:37 PM EST
Your attitude is just as bad on a different level. The death penalty isn't meant to be about vengence, its about deterent and that doesn't happen. If it makes you feel any better, prison isn't a glorious time as some fools like to make it sound with free meals, medical, etc. Its about watching your back, violence, rape, depression and mental breakdowns. A society that promotes violence in response to violence just lives a viscious cycle.
by legacyABQ2 November 1, 2009 1:32 AM EST
I hate to sound like Tipper Gore, but if you listened to the rap music kids are listening to, not TOP-40 stuff but underground music, it would burn your ears off. I was shocked to the core by some lyrics Ive been hearing; about RAPE, ROBBERY, and TOTAL SELFISH SATISFACTION OF ALL DESIRE.
I'm not kidding, the stuff I heard was pure pornography, and 13 yeard olds post it on their myspace pages. Serious, HARDCORE, GRAPHIC celebration of violence and rape.
Inner city kids can barely complete sentences, or spell the words in them. No language=no useful thought.
WHAT KIND OF ANIMALS ARE "GROWING-UP" IN OUR MIDST?

I know every generation says this, but I'm telling you people this time it is different.We are raising a generation of selfish, violent, SOCIOPATHS with no conscience at all, no sense of fellowship or humanity, no sense of right and wrong.
Its not about religion; its about parenting, and social influences (and lack thereof).
WE NEED TO STOP passing kids thru the grades no matter how bad they fail. We need to pay attention to our youth; we must educate them and nurture them while they are still very young.
Once they are teenagers, it's too late.
A nation with an inferiority complex cannot raise healthy children. We need to stop spending our money on WARS and CORPORATE BAILOUTS, and take that money and REBUILD THE SCHOOL SYSTEM from the ground up. Hire people with master's degrees, and double the pay at least. FIRE TEACHERS WHO PASS KIDS WRONGLY.
Kids from this area have been posting here, and I....I just can't believe how badly educated they are. Some of it is literally unreadable.
We must teach our kids better in order to save our nation! This can be done in a secular society, we must do it. We cannot afford to have a generation of ignorant selfish people with no ethical sense at all. We cannot survive a generation of sociopaths.
Reply to this comment
by michigander62 November 1, 2009 7:48 AM EST
"Rebuild the Schools". Are you kidding? Schools only have a child for 6-8 hours and then adult to child ratio is probably about1:60. When are parents going to become responsible for their children? It is the parents who are at fault for the rape of this child not the schools. Legacy you sound like one of those,"It takes a Village crappers". It only takes one set of involved parents.
by legacyABQ2 November 1, 2009 1:19 AM EST
Why did they have to BEAT her as well? From whence comes such ANGER, such MALICE for an innocent individual?
That's what scares me; their complete lack of empathy. She was an OBJECT to them. They have no conscience, at all. How do people end up like this? My god.
Reply to this comment
by bubbadubba October 31, 2009 9:12 PM EDT
<<<<Suspects Smith, Morales and Peter were each charged with rape-in-concert and sexual penetration with a foreign object, along with special circumstances that could make them eligible for a life sentence.>>>>

I say execute the sick psycho freaks.
And let me comment on the headline and the article, there is no such thing as a bullet proof vest. No vest is bullet proof. It is called body armor because it may stop a bullet but then again it may not depending on the type bullet and the range.
Does anyone know what they are writing about these days?
Reply to this comment
by michigander62 November 1, 2009 7:48 AM EST
I like the idea of stun guns for each child.....
by sandy19731 October 31, 2009 6:56 PM EDT
To those of you who have less sympathy for this young lady because she had been drinking; do you think the perpetrators are less guilty?

Would their guilt have been different if she had been mentally retarded, or six years old, or stone cold sober, or male?
Reply to this comment
by michigander62 November 1, 2009 7:49 AM EST
There is no proof anywhere that the victim was drinking. I get the idea you would like to blame her and not the sick twits who repeatedly raped her.
by Pertinacious October 31, 2009 6:34 PM EDT
#1. As far as the witnesses go, they DEFINITELY should be charged with a crime.

#2. As far as the perpetrators are concerned, do not collect $200- go directly to hell.

#3> Props to MarnaNene for asking the question about her father. Supposedly she left the school around 9:30pm to be picked up by her father. If he could not find her, or reach her on her cell, or did not receive any messages from his daughter, why didn't he go into the school to look for her. He would not have found her, so he could have at least asked the police to do a search of the outside area, and just possibly, part or idealistically even all of this 2 1/2 hours of horror might have been averted.
Reply to this comment
by sean66x October 31, 2009 6:07 PM EDT
The Defendants are young and excitable. They should plead guilty to a lesser charge since the victim had a party with them. Situations get out of control. The gang must accept punishment to express their sorrow and guilt.
Reply to this comment
by sandy19731 October 31, 2009 6:50 PM EDT
"the victim had a party with them" are you saying that gave them some kind of permission to rape and torture her?

What kind of parties do you have?
by writer10 October 31, 2009 7:21 PM EDT
'situations get out of control??' The eldest is 21 years old...he's an adult...as is the 19 yr old - the rest are just scum following step in their environment but you give them the 'excuse' of 'young and excitable'...nice.
Gee...arsonists are 'excitable and j*ackoff when they set fires, you think they should just show 'sorrow and guilt' for their actions and be let go as well?
by linfinster November 1, 2009 4:46 AM EST
You're an idiot
by michigander62 November 1, 2009 7:51 AM EST
sean: Your a real looser. Blame alcohol and not ingrained morals and character. Yep your a typical lefty looser.
by 6591Hou November 1, 2009 10:26 AM EST
"The Defendants are young and excitable"..." the victim had a party with them. Situations get out of control."...sean66x

Are you seriously for real?
by stychokiller October 31, 2009 4:37 PM EDT
Whenever I hear of events such as this, I thank God that my Daughter has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and would have probably broken some arms and legs of these disrespectful young men.
Reply to this comment
by alpanp October 30, 2009 11:43 PM EDT
Jewiz24 - It sounds like your answering my comment and if so, the tenor of my piece seems to have miscommunicated: My point is that a 15 year
old is still a child. How many of us remember the first time we got tipsy at a party? For me it was 17. It may have been the first time she ingested alcohol. Maybe someone slipped her GHB or Rohypnol. I did not suggest it was her fault she got raped: The subhuman goons who took advantage of her state easily overpowered her by 20 to 1. It just seems in THEIR twisted minds, her increased vulnerability mitigated their crime of opportunity - which I am NOT buying at all. I stand by my sentiments against these sorry excuses for humanity; and I would just love to
see them get the gallows.
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