Posted on 04/21/2005 9:12:25 PM PDT by flutters
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- One of the teens expelled after an alleged sexual attack last month at Mifflin High School is appealing his expulsion, NBC 4's Elenora Andrews reported.
A ninth-grade special education student claims she was forced to perform oral sex on at least two boys at the high school auditorium while others reportedly watched the acts and another student allegedly videotaped it.
The teens in question were expelled. But one, who had a Dayton-area pastor as a spokesman and his mother by his side, spoke publicly Thursday about the alleged incident.
The high school senior was expelled for allegedly videotaping the incident.
"Clearly this act was totally wrong," The Rev. Jerome McCorry said.
But the student's spokesman said it was wrong to expel the teen.
"There is nothing on the tape that implicates this young man, No. 1, was involved in any act, and No. 2, that he set out to record anything," McCorry said.
Columbus police confiscated the tape, but neither police nor district officials will comment on the tape or when they will complete their investigations.
Statements obtained by NBC 4 that were given to district officials show that a number of people witnessed the alleged sex act, and that students reportedly saw the tape.
Those are claims the teen denies.
"None of us have ever seen this tape," McCorry said. "The tape was never used. We have a principal who says that the expulsion was issued in part because of the taping of a sexual incident, and yet she's never seen the tape. So, we're fighting this case. This is clearly an injustice."
An independent arbitrator will give his ruling on the expulsion appeal in about a week, Andrews reported.
"There was no intention to tape anything," McCorry said. "Most of the tape is sound and not a picture where you hear laughing and giggling and that kind of thing, to our understanding. So, his only role again is being in the wrong place in the wrong time. What we've been able to find out is that there's only about seven seconds of tape. So, clearly, if there was an intent to tape an act, it would be a lot more than seven seconds worth of tape in this situation."
The teen's mother said her son was interviewed a month ago. While she and the pastor said the teen did not commit a crime, Columbus police will not comment on potential charges. They said it is an ongoing investigation.
Investigation Continues
The Mifflin High School principal lost her job as part of the investigation. But now there are new questions about whether one of the assistant principals should have been in the school in the first place.
Three of the administrators disciplined in the Mifflin investigation have excellent records, but former assistant principal Suzie Retterer-Helfrich had a series of evaluations where she did not meet expectations, Andrews reported. Pages of documents dating back to 1999 show that Retterer-Helfrich "failed to exercise good judgment," adding that she "did not take responsibility for her actions or communicate properly with parents."
A later review said she would overcome all of the claims, but similar allegations have come again, Andrews reported.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories: April 21, 2005: Talk Show Host Discusses Mayor's Comments With NBC 4 April 20, 2005: Mayor Calls Radio Show Host Over Alleged Sexual Assault April 20, 2005: Changes Announced Following Alleged High School Assault April 19, 2005: CPS Administrators Meet In Wake Of Mifflin Allegations April 16, 2005: Officials, Students Could Face Charges In Alleged Sexual Assault April 14, 2005: Investigation Into Alleged School Assault Continues April 13, 2005: Witnesses: Disabled Girl Punched, Forced To Perform Sex Acts April 6, 2005: Principal Fired For Not Calling Police About Sexual Assault
Is it just me or does it seem stupid that forcing someone to engage in oral sex isn't rape?
Better put some ice on that.
Glenn Beck has a special needs child, so this really caught his interest.
Hey mom, quit defending his reprehensible behavior. Why didn't he try to stop it or report it instead of taping it?
Now this pastor must be a real winner too, if he thinks this boy is not guilty as hell.
Shame on the lot of them.
Right. The camera-phone just jumped out of his pocket and turned itself on.
prisoner6
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Maybe he was practicing to be a "journalist"
I disagree on both points. How can you use the word sex with the word oral and say it's not sex? And then to quote Bubba as an authority when he had an issue with the word "is", not the word "sex". Never once did Bubba say that oral sex isn't sex.
My eyes are "allegedly" popping out.
Since the victim is a special needs student, she's probably a 'nonproductive' person or will be, so her rights aren't important. This is much ado about nothing.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
taxesareforever: "How can you use the word sex with the word oral and say it's not sex?"
someconfusedperson: "How can you use the word virtual with the word reality and say it's not reality?"
Compare.
"the compassionate thing to do would be to starve her to death."
I don't think you want to go there. You're opening the door for the boys to argue they were providing her with protein and something to drink.
LOL!
Don't joke. I bet most of the parents are saying "she was asking for it". It won't be long before that becomes the battle cry.
And in case anyone thinks I am kidding, remember that is the battle cry to kill Terri. She was asking for it.
It's kinda like the old fraternity line of "She said she wanted to sleep with me just before she passed out".
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