Posted on 04/13/2005 8:08:09 AM PDT by Abathar
Police: Dozens Watch As Student Forced To Perform Sex Act Officials Say Student Videotaped Abuse
UPDATED: 8:32 am EST April 13, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Police say several students witnessed the sexual abuse of a girl at a Columbus high school.
A 16-year-old student with developmental delays said she was dragged into the auditorium of Mifflin High School, punched and forced to perform oral sex on at least two male students while more than a dozen other students were called in to watch.
One student reportedly videotaped the sex acts, WCMH-TV in Columbus reported.
A student witness reported hearing an attacker warn, "If you scream, I'll have my boys punch you."
The same witness said the girl then dropped to her knees after she was punched in the face.
Students scattered when help was called, officials said.
During the attack, one witness looked for a school security guard but could not find anyone, he told investigators.
"We went back to the auditorium; the victim was 'butt naked,"' the witness said, and someone "was on top of her."
The attackers then ran from the scene, and witnesses helped the girl get dressed before taking her to a security employee, who is not a police officer.
Mifflin High School officials who found her bleeding from the mouth March 9 did not call police, and an assistant principal cautioned the girl's father against calling 911 because the media might get involved, according to statements from school officials obtained by The Columbus Dispatch. But the girl's father insisted on calling police and contacted them later that afternoon.
Special education teacher Julie Calvario said the girl told her about the incident.
"(She said) she was scared and told him to stop, but he hit her in the head and told her to be quiet," Calvario said.
Even after administrators were alerted to the alleged criminal act, they did not call police, or the victim's father, WCMH reported.
More than an hour later, teacher Lisa Upshaw called the girl's father. Upshaw said that when the girl's father arrived, assistant principal Richard Watson would not call the police.
The girl's father demanded that school officials call the police.
"Mr. Watson said, 'No we don't want to do that, we don't want the police,"' Upshaw told the investigator.
In his statement, Watson said he told the father to "go ahead and call," but not to call 911 because the "news channel might tape his daughter and cause her further mental trauma."
Richard Watson is one of three assistant principals suspended for 10 days. Principal Regina Crenshaw will likely lose her job, WCMH reported.
The girl's father called police after Upshaw told him, "This is child abuse. She needs medical attention and this is wrong."
WCMH reported that Upshaw also told the girl's father that he needed to take the victim to the hospital and that she was a walking crime scene.
Administrators reportedly warned the father that if police were called, the news media would follow, WCMH reported.
Police said they now have the videotape and the investigation continues, although no charges have been filed so far.
That's true ... but the greater number by far is by black on black.
I take encouragement from several things.
One, the number of black kids I see in Christian, and Catholic schools and the involvement of their parents in the schools.
Two. My wife is a charge nurse in a nursing home. Just about all of her aids are black. That's very hard work at relatively low pay. Many of these women are squeezing enough money out of their meager paychecks to send their kids to private schools. Some of these women are doing it for their grandchildren.
Three. I attended an inner city (changing) school. I had some bad (racial) experiences but also many good ones. About 25% of the school population was black, about 25% Jewish and the rest mutts like me. We had our 50th reunion last year and as with all previous ones (we had one at least every 10 years, sometimes 5) we showed up in the usual great numbers and enjoyed one another tremendously, as always.
What's the difference, then vs. now?
IMHO, (1) an infinitely better education system and, (2) the country had not yet been culturally despoiled by Lyndon Baines Johnson and his minions.
good points, thanks for the post.
Then, what is the point?
Good point!!!
Yes, you're right. But it's not just the media that doesn't understand the difference in developmental disabilities and speech difficulties, it's the general public that doesn't understand. For those of us who are personally involved with a child with learning disabilities, we begin to understand the complexities and the differe
My older daughter was/is ADD, and our health insurance gave her the tag "mentally nervous."
Labels harm our children's psche more than we may know.
why don't you start a bigot ping list?
typing with one hand when you read these stories?
Public Beheadings?
This happened early March-on March 17th, school had parent meeting to 'improve school climate'.
Administration was notified before all this that there was a 'problem' of kids having sex in building.
Girl may have been set up-she may have been told to meet someone there
This happened during class time; all kids who watched and instigated this were skipping classes. Rumors that this spread through school and kids were running to go watch
Students well aware they can get away with it, as administrators have done nothing about this for some time
Beck threatening to do broadcast from across the street from school and attempting to contact DA to see why taking so long to charge anyone, as for one thing, they do have possession of the video.
Another area woman called and alluded to it being classified as a minority school, and that may be the reason for the lack of reporting in papers and tv.
Glenn Beck had fun with the Watson guy's name -- playing up the idea that 'he didn't want any publicity' etc etc...
So every time he mentioned the guy's name he would use that nice "echo" effect.
Wasn't Beck great to listen to on this one!
These women deserve a lot of credit - it is sad that generations will let things go to pot and then one or two generations has to pick up the tab for it.
I'm a recent convert to Glenn; started listening @3-4 months ago and admire how he is relentless on issues and is not afraid to suggest listeners to do the same.
I just happen to listen to him on 610WTVN.com, from Columbus, and did not hear anything about this on their local news reports; only heard on Glenn's broadcast-amazing. Hope he is able to get a comment from DA today, and what the heck the holdup is in charging anyone.
Did ya hear the gal that called the school today and school claimed the girl was not raped. Again, thanks Bill Clinton.
Hmmm coming from a Bigot Racist like yourself I thought that you had already started that ping list.
Two of my grandchildren have learning disabilities. Their mother (who never should have) homeschooled them and it was a disaster. Now they're really struggling.
Do you use diet restrictions with your ADD child? That often helps where medication doesn't. Maryxxx
You've certainly been through it all! My sister was always told why weren'tyou as smart as your sister! Well, she ran away from home and school when she was 14 and has always led a wretched life. She died two years ago and I hope she's found the peace she'd always been searching for. Self esteem is so important in young people, especially. Congratulations on your fight to keep her balanced! Love, Maryxxx
EVERYONE OF THESE SCUMBAGS NEED JAIL TIME!
No, it's time to bring back the Death Penalty for Rape and this kind of assault.
Hanging in a public square with the families of these scum forced to watch.
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