Hey, Can A Woman "Ask To Get Raped"?

Where were her friends

CNN reports that the victim "had come alone to the Richmond High School homecoming dance, gorgeous in a sparkling purple dress and faux diamond baubles. The DJ played salsa, meringue, rap. When the teenager disappeared, her friends thought she had gone home early."

All victims of violent crimes deserve our help. As a society, what kind of message are we sending when we say it is okay to stand by and not make a call when someone is being brutally victimized over and over again?

On October 24th, 2009 a young woman, only 16 tender years of age, left her high school homecoming dance in Richmond California to get a ride from her father when she joined some young men and began drinking with them. They soon began their assault. Several of the men beat her, robbed her, and repeatedly raped her while people looked on.

Police think there were up to 10 attackers and anywhere from 15 to 20 people stopping to watch. Authorities said witnesses took photos, laughed and some joined in as the girl was repeatedly assaulted. People came and went and no one called the police. The assault lasted for over 2 hours.

Instead of snapping photos with their cell phones, witnesses should have been using them to call for help. AB 984, will appropriately expand an existing investigatory tool, and will hold people accountable for allowing this and similar terrible attacks to go uninterrupted.

Under current California law, had the victim of this rape been under 14 years of age, observers who failed to report could have been charged with a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine up to $1,500, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. The victim in this case was 16, which means that the witnesses who did nothing can't be held accountable.

There is a problem with a law when witnesses to a crime of rape or murder are not held accountable for something as simple as using a telephone to call the police.

My bill, The Witness Responsibility Act (AB 984), eliminates the arbitrary requirement that a victim be under 14 years of age. All victims of violent crime deserve our help.

It is appalling that this young girl in Richmond was left to suffer instead of being saved from hours of torment and pain. As a former Deputy District Attorney, I know her healing will take years and the loving support of friends and family. Her faith and trust in humanity may never be the same.

Victim's rights groups and law enforcement understand why this simple change in California law is so important.

Harriet Salarno, Chair of Crime Victims United of California said:

AB 984 removes a senseless provision that limits the reporting requirement by individuals witnessing violent crimes against victims to only those victims under the age of 14. In the case of the Richmond rape, had any one of the witnesses called the police, the two hour attack could have been halted much sooner. Victims of violent crime should be able to expect that regardless of one's age, witnesses to their crimes will report the atrocities to law enforcement and provide the relevant information to assist in apprehending the victim's attacker(s).

How is making the AOC more in line with when humans start to have sex "pushing them into the deep end"? I happen to think that when the hormones start popping and the body is ready around the twelfth birthday that making them wait till 17 or so to give them the keys to their body is cruel, and counter productive.

sounds to me like she ditched her friends to go party with the guys outside.

How is making the AOC more in line with when humans start to have sex "pushing them into the deep end"?

but doesnt the accused have that same right.

I'll say it again....one study found 60% of CONVICTIONS were where the female had lied

Anyway, I have serious problem with a law the requires any "witness" to report, as this could be a neighbor who hears a woman screaming as she is getting beaten, and so he being a good citizen feels that since a marital rape might be taking place he has to follow the law and call 911...Never-mind that these laws get in the way of some serious fun

World news: Daughter claims rapist dad fathered her ten children
27 November 2010

An Argentine woman has accused her father of sexually abusing her for 30 years and having 10 children with her, including one who killed himself after learning the truth about his "grandfather".

Elvira Gomez, 43, said she did not report the alleged abuse until her father Armando Gomez, 62, was recently arrested for robbery.

"I felt that I was a worse than a prisoner for 30 years because I couldn't even talk with anybody. He raped me, beat me for any reason, didn't let me approach other people and always had a loaded gun. He told me, 'I'm going to go to prison, but I'm going to kill you first'," Ms Gomez said according to the newspaper Clarin.

DNA tests reported this week confirmed that nine of her 10 children were with her father. Tests could not be carried out on her remaining son because he is dead.

Ms Gomez, from the village of Nicanor Molinos in Santa Fe, said she did not have the courage to report the abuse until now because "since I was a girl he beat me with whatever he had in his hand: a rod or a machete which cut me all over. I spent days in bed".

Her mother died when she was 20 months old, she said.
http://news.scotsman.com/news/World-news-Daughter-claims-rapist.6641998.jp

Post the study to support your assertion

Most rape convictions involve more evidence than just the victim's word for what happened. In exclusive he said/she said situations, with no other evidence, juries tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the defendant and there is no conviction. That's why those cases rarely even go to trial.

That is why so many men had been released on new DNA evidence after having been convicted by error in IDing by the victim? In other word on her word alone.

Man arrested, charged with child rape
Sunday, 28 Nov 2010
Sy Becker

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A vile crime committed against a 9-year-old girl in Springfield early Sunday morning. The little girl was allegedly raped by her grandmother's boyfriend.

22News learned of the crime from Springfield Police Lt. Robert Moynihan. The 9-year-old girl was allegedly attacked in a house in Springfield's Forest Park neighborhood.

Forty-five-year old Eliu Ramos has been charged with rape of a child by force.

Lt. Moynihan.told 22News, they all lived there, the victim, the grandmother and her boyfriend whose been accused of raping the little girl.

Springfield police officers arrested Ramos at a home on Alden Street.

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/man-arrested-charged-with-child-rape

Man who stopped sex attack praised
Monday Nov 29, 2010

Christchurch police have praised a man who intervened during an alleged rape over the weekend.

A 41-year-old man will appear in Christchurch District Court today charged with rape, unlawful sexual connection, theft and injury with intent to injure following an attack on a 20-year-old woman in the central city about midnight Saturday.

The woman was walking on Hereford Street when she was approached by a man, pushed into a front yard and sexually assaulted.

The house's occupant, who wanted to be identified only as Phill, heard screaming and went out to investigate.

"He was on top of her and she was struggling, with arms flailing and screaming 'help me, help me'," he told The Press.

"I grabbed him and pulled him towards me and looked him right in the eye and I could see the sweat on his brow and he was wondering what I was going to do next.

"I pushed him onto the street and pushed him away and said 'f... off'."

The man ran off and Phil flagged down a passing police car.

The attacker was eventually found crouching in a nearby yard.

Detective Sergeant Leairne Dow said Phill stopped a "horrific" attack.

"He was brilliant. Without his help, things could have progressed and got a lot worse," she said.

"She (the woman) is not doing too bad considering the ordeal she has been through. She is very lucky."

- NZPA
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10690785

City man charged in early morning rape
By TIM BUCKLAND
New Hampshire Union Leader
Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010

MANCHESTER – A local man was arrested Saturday on charges he raped a woman in a parking lot near the Bridge Street bridge.

Police Sgt. Kristen Taylor said Danny Paulino, 22, stalked the 29-year-old woman as she crossed the bridge while walking to work at 5:20 a.m. Saturday. He caught up to her and dragged her to a parking lot behind a large commercial building at 195 McGregor St.

The victim screamed and fought with Paulino during the assault, Taylor said. She suffered non-life threatening injuries, the sergeant said.

"She was walking in a well-lit area. She fought to the best of her abilities and shouted for help. In this case, she did everything we would ask people to do" if they are assaulted, Taylor said.

Paulino did not know the victim and attacked her randomly, Taylor said.

"He observed her walking and just took the opportunity," she said.

A man, who Taylor declined to identify, heard the woman screaming and saw Paulino on top of her. The passerby shouted at Paulino, chased the alleged assailant when he ran away and called 911. Police found Paulino walking on Allard Street, Taylor said.

Paulino was charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault and was being held Saturday in Hillsborough County Jail. He will be arraigned Monday in Manchester District Court.

Taylor said Saturday night that an investigation of Paulino's criminal record turned up only minor offenses, including a traffic violation and a charge of resisting arrest.

"Nothing of this nature," she said.

She said police are continuing to investigate his past, however.
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=City+man+charged+in+early+morning+rape&articleId=ff032776-e0db-4222-9c08-f224fbc1eab3

You never posted any such study

Juries almost never convict on the word of the woman alone without some additional evidence. That's why it's so easy for rapists to get away with raping someone.

No-contest plea in rape case
By KATY SWEENY - Staff Writer
11/24/2010

OROVILLE — A 38-year-old man rarely lifted his eyes to the judge as he agreed to serve 24 years in prison and pleaded no contest to a rape behind the Oroville Rite Aid.

Mark Allen Jacques of Oroville told Butte County Superior Court Judge Robert Glusman he understood his rights and that he would likely serve 85 percent of his sentence, about 20 years, rather than a standard 50 percent.

Jacques then pleaded no contest to three of the four charges against him, including sexual penetration by a foreign object with force and violence, forcible rape and dissuading a witness by force or threat.

He also admitted to allegations of kidnapping for sexual purposes and using a deadly weapon for purposes of committing a sexual offense. His defense attorney, Jodea Foster, joined in the plea.

Deputy district attorney Stacy Edwards dismissed a kidnapping charge to resolve the case, she said. Jacques had been facing life in prison.

On Aug. 23, Jacques grabbed the victim, forced her behind Rite Aid off Oro Dam Boulevard in Oroville and raped her. He knew the victim.

In court Wednesday, Glusman told Jacques his plea is considered a serious felony and if he commits another felony when released, his sentence for the new crime could be doubled.

The judge accepted the plea and convicted Jacques of the charges.

"I'm sure the alleged victim, now victim, appreciates that very much," Glusman said.

Edwards said outside court the prosecution offered the plea bargain after considering the possibility of retraumatizing the victim during trial and the uncertainty of trial results. As to Jacques serving about 20 years in prison versus life, Edwards said, "We felt that was a just result."

Prosecution did not approve the plea bargain with the victim because Edwards said they have been unable to locate her.

Jacques will return to court Dec. 29. He remains at the Butte County Jail on a no-bail hold.
http://www.orovillemr.com/rss/ci_16706687?source=rss