Five suspects arrested in connection with gang rape of teen girl

Richmond Police Lt. Gagan describes the suspects as "monsters." The D.A.'s office is seeking life sentences for those who have been arrested and charged with rape in concert [gang rape]. The victim, a 15-year-old girl, remains hospitalized.

As reported in DigitalJournal.com, a 15-year-old girl was gang raped, beaten and robbed after leaving a homecoming dance at Richmond High School in California Saturday night. That report describes how witnesses to the two and a half hour attack did nothing, while others actually participated in the assault. The number of rapists has increased since the original report. At first, it was thought there were 4-7 rapists. That number may be as many as ten. Since Saturday night, Richmond police have worked feverishly to arrest the suspects. As of today, five suspects have been arrested. Four of those suspects may face life sentences. According to ABC News, Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan said:

Manuel Ortega, a 19-year-old former Richmond High School student, has been charged with robbery, assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, rape in concert [gang rape] and rape with violence. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office is going to ask for a life sentence for Ortega. His bail has been set at $1,230,000. The other three suspects are juveniles, ages 15, 16 and 17, but are to be charged as adults, and the D.A.'s office will seek life sentences for the trio.

Each of the three minors are charged with felony rape with a foreign object. The San Jose Mercury News quotes Deputy District Attorney Dara Cashman as saying, "The charges all carry an enhancement that they acted in concert, which could make them eligible for life in prison if found true." In the ABC News video, separate from the one provided here, Lt. Gagan described the rape suspects as "monsters" and indicates that California law will not allow for prosecution of onlookers because the crime victim was over fourteen. More details have emerged as to what transpired Saturday night. The victim left the dance around 9:30 p.m. and planned to call her father to get a ride home. Before making that call, a classmate called to her from behind a chain-linked fence. The victim and her friend then joined a group of teens in a poorly lit campus courtyard. The teens were drinking and, according to the San Jose Mercury News, police said "The victim drank a large amount of brandy in a short amount of time while socializing then collapsed. Someone dragged her to a bench, where several people stripped her, beat her, stole her jewelry and other belongings, and raped her." News of the attack, which had been going on for more than two hours, reached Raul Rubio. Rubio was visiting with friends about a block away from campus. After verifying what he had heard, Rubio went to his girlfriend's home and she called 911. The victim, who continues to be hospitalized, is reportedly in stable condition and working with authorities. Police are offering a reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible, and donations for the victim are being solicited. Details are below: *Richmond police ask anyone with information about the case to call Detective Ken Greco at 510-620-6618. The department is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of those responsible. *Donations to the victim can be sent to Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804. They should be made out to "Richmond High School Student Fund" with "Sex assault victim" in the memo box.