The four Damascus High School (DHS) students charged as adultsfor allegedly raping fellow football players inside a school locker room were each released on a $20,000 bond Monday.
Jean Abedi, Kristian Lee, Will Smith and Caleb Thorpe, all 15 years old, face first-degree rape charges stemming from an Oct. 31 incident in which the teens allegedly sexually assaulted four junior varsity football teammates as part of a hazing ritual at Damascus High School. A fifth person faces charges related to the incident, but is being charged as a juvenile so his identity has not been released by police.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said Maryland state law mandates individuals older than 14 be charged as adults when charged with first-degree rape. However, Abedi, Lee, Smith and Thorpe can each petition to have their cases returned to juvenile court.
McCarthy said the prosecution will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to oppose the petitions, if filed.
The four boys being tried as adults are charged with one count of first-degree rape, three counts of attempted first-degree rape and one count of conspiracy to commit rape.
Each was ordered Monday to have no contact with each other or the alleged victims, and to stay away from the high school as conditions of their bond release. Mental health evaluations were also ordered Monday...
"She added that an investigation is underway and anyone found responsible will receive consequences in accordance with the MCPS Code of Conduct." This ought to instill in them the fear of God.
ReplyDelete“I’m offended by the term hazing. It’s not hazing,” McCarthy said. “These are crimes and I would caution anyone to refer to this as hazing.
ReplyDeleteAre you reading this, Jack Smith? Please call it what it is next time to speak about this crime. I have completely lost my faith in your ability to protect our students.
Crime is an act or omission that the law makes punishable. It can also be the breach of a legal duty, which is treated as the subject matter of a criminal proceeding.
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