Posted on 03/22/2008 5:14:33 PM PDT by Comparative Advantage
A Dublin Coffman High School junior is accused of raping a female student in a bathroom of the school earlier this week.
DeJuan J. Funches, 17, is charged with a delinquency count of rape in connection with an incident that Dublin police say occurred Tuesday afternoon.
Funches was arrested Thursday at school and appeared in Franklin County Juvenile Court yesterday.
Police took three pairs of boxer shorts from Funches' home at 2854 Sawmill Ridge Dr. during a search Wednesday. Officers first questioned Funches that same day.
A search warrant filed with Franklin County Municipal Court says Funches forced a 15-year-old fellow student into a boys bathroom at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, then sexually assaulted her in a stall.
The girl was treated at Dublin Methodist Hospital, according to the court document.
The incident occurred about an hour after school was dismissed.
Dublin Coffman students were on spring break and did not have classes yesterday, but the district superintendent issued a written statement regarding the investigation.
"The safety of our students is our top priority. The district will be cooperating with the Dublin Police Department during their investigation into this matter, as well as conducting its own investigation per district procedures," Superintendent David Axner wrote.
Axner couldn't be reached for further comment.
School officials also said they plan to make sure Dublin Coffman is doing enough to keep students who remain on campus after school safe.
"We're going to have to review what happens after school," said Doug Baker, district spokesman. "Obviously, we're going to have to review our policies and procedures about students in the building."
Although the matter is still in the hands of police and high-school administrators, board members said student safety is their No. 1 priority.
"Our top concern is always, always safety," said board member Lynn May. "If we could keep an eye out for all 14,000 students, we would."
Funches' family defended him yesterday, saying he didn't commit a crime.
"I do not want my baby going to jail for something he did not do," Debra Bell, Funches' mother, told WBNS-TV (Channel 10) after his appearance in juvenile court.
DeJuan J. Funches
?
Who makes up these names?
Mom's name is Debra Bell.
“The incident occurred about an hour after school was dismissed.”
You’re quick, LOL! Slick was my first thought, too! They must not have “Midnight Basketball” at their school to keep they boys busy enough...
Thank goodness he didn’t have a GUN on school property, or this would REALLY be an important crime.
A d@mn shame that she didn’t!
Charge the kid as an adult.
Didn’t we have a similar thread about a year ago from a Columbus High School? A sexual assault that occured in the auditorium and was filmed by other students? The principal kept it quiet?
Yes, at Mifflin HS. There was also another incident involving the boys lacrosse coaches at Dublin Coffman. They sodomized a player with their fingers during a "hazing" ritual on a bus trip to an away game.
That one involved a girl who was mentally retarded (I’m sorry if that’s not the current term.....). Glenn Beck hammered hard on that incident.
Typical.
Here’s another one.
17? That guy looks about 25.
Could have been worse: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/fugitives/vc/murders/pasha_mm.htm.
The best way to have your child shot or in prison is to name him LaShawn.
Ooooooh, DeJuan is only 17 and he got a mention in the newspaper — I smell a mistrial.
This will blow over quickly. Now, had the young man brought an imaginary handgun to school, then he’d be in real trouble!
Another good reason to never let your kids see the inside of a public school!
Nope. Legal here in Ohio if the perp is over 15.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.