Hofstra Student Recants Gang-Rape Story

(CBS/ AP)  Four New York men were released from jail Wednesday and authorities dismissed charges that they gang-raped a Hofstra University student after the 18-year-old woman recanted her story.

"I'm so happy the truth finally came out," said Stalin Felipe, 19, outside the Nassau County Jail in East Meadow where he and the other three had just been released Wednesday night.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement late Wednesday that the woman told law enforcement officials that the sex encounter in a dormitory men's room was consensual.

Rice said a county judge then dismissed the charges against the four men and ordered their release. She said her office has launched a criminal investigation into the woman's statements.

The woman had accused five men, including a Hofstra student, of taking her cell phone at an on-campus nightclub and luring her into a dormitory men's room and sexually assaulting her early Sunday.

Four men were arrested within hours and arraigned on rape and other charges. Felipe, Rondell Bedward, 21, Jesus Ortiz, 19, all of the Bronx, and Kevin Taveras, 20, of Brentwood, faced 25 years in prison if convicted.

"I'm happy that the truth is out, that we can clear our names. All of us have last names. All of us have families. I'm sure they were embarrassed. I'm just happy we're out of here, that you're here. That we can get our story told," said wrongly accused Kevin Taveras, reports CBS News affiliate WCBS - New York.

Taveras said he was looking forward to a hot shower.

Felipe, who heard the news while half asleep in his jail cell, said he didn't have any hard feelings toward his accuser. "I'm just happy to be free."

He declined to discuss what occurred Sunday morning.

Bedward, who had been suspended by the university after his arrest, declined to speak with reporters outside jail.

[kinglinden]

I guess she wanted to try something different, and now she's gonna pay big for it. Because she lie..shame

[jclark7613]

The worst part is these four young men are now in the system...Their names will always be there... The news should her name in the paper also for what she as done...she should also spend some time behind bar...maybe she will think again before lying on someone and maybe she wont engage in group sex again.... These boy better go to the clinic to make sure they didn't catch something because why would a girl do that unless she had a agenda...

[mjlewis6]

Police act quickly, but you don't see that kind of response when it comes to the police as perpetrators...

I am just glad the 'victim' did not continue with the charade with pressure from police to charge her for filing a false police report. That kind of "pressure the witness" stuff is ILLEGAL for defendants to do...and should be ILLEGAL for police to do. Glad she stopped it.

[maistir]

Hofstra better raise admission standards and hire a couple of lawyers.

[bigmo47]

Two of the guys have denied even having consentual sex with her and one guy isn't talking. Who knows what actually happened, this lady could be a complete nut job. Her name is Danmell Ndonye. I beleive if you make a false accusation, you should be exposed for the liar you are.

[DebLar906]

Felipe said, "he was blessed with that the truth was finally out? He was involved in group sex and he is blessed? What a moron. His mother seemed very proud hugging her son though he was involved in this sick act. She should be put in prison for stupidity and raising an idiot son.

[cbsblogger]

Get real! Young guys don't turn this down and reduced blood flow to the brain happens. But girls that do it and then press charges are not only criminals but idiots. The issue here is not the boys taking turns, or the mother hugging her son because he was freed and who admittedly took a foolish chance by having sex with this whxre, it is the criminal who lied.

[Questionews]

Eerily similar to the Duke case. I do believe that her name & picture should be out there. At the very least so guys would know who to avoid in a bar. And let her parents know what kind of fine daughter they raised. Four guys at one time? Sloppy seconds is disgusting enough, but what do you call getting forth place??

[formrusmcsgt]

One stupid broad.

Agrees to a five-way...then screams rape.

Stupid.

[kinglinden]

agree,

[rsmik]

How can I screw up my kid's life? Stalin ftw!

[presjfk]

What is this Stalin thing you are referring to?

[presjfk]

There is a lot of anger in this blog against this woman and rightfully so. But the men in this story are guilty of amazing stupidity; putting themselves in that situation which could have ended up with their incarceration for decades. Not to mention the risk of getting an STD, maybe AIDS and the embarrassment of acting like fools and immoral bastards.

[Uncle_Eccoli]

Would you have been so quick to blame the girl if she actually had been raped?

[kinglinden]

you must be a chick, she said it was consensual.