Richmond High School, Richmond CA Gang Rape: Five Arrested

by Amy Judd | October 28, 2009 at 10:28 am

3414 views | 28 Recommendations | 13 comments

Manuel Ortega is already in custody for the rape of a 15-year-old girl outside the Richmond High School homecoming dance in Richmond California, but now five other people have been arrested.

Two adults and three juveniles have been arrested for what has been described as a two and a half hour assault outside the dance on the Richmond campus. Police expect to make further arrests as it has been reported that as many as 20 people were involved or stood around and watched while the rape took place.

Police posted a $20,000 reward Tuesday for anyone who comes to them with information that helps arrest and convict those involved in the alleged assault.

"We will be making arrests continually as we develop probable cause," Gagan said. "With this number of people implicated in the incident, we're going to be making arrests on an ongoing basis."

At least 10 people were involved in the rape that took place in a dimly lit alley behind the school and at least 10 people stood around to watch and did not call 911. It is illegal not to report a crime against a child, but that is only against children younger than 14. However, it is not illegal to view a crime against someone over 14 and not report it, but the question remains if the people standing around did just watch the crime or did they incite it by standing there for over two hours?

"We do not have the ability to arrest people who witnessed the crime and did nothing," Gagan said. "The law can be very rigid. We don't have the authority to make an arrest."

The Richmond School District does bear some responsibility for the attack as they weren't watching the area around the school like they were supposed to be doing.

The victim was left after the attack and was found unconscious under a bench just before midnight after police received a call from someone who had overheard people talking about the incident. The girl is now in stable condition in hospital, but for a while she was in critical.

Manuel Ortega, a former student at Richmond High School has already been arrested and will face charges of robbery, rape, and kidnapping. Police know that the girl was raped by at least four suspects committing multiple sex acts.

"As people announced over time that this was going on, more people came to see, and some actually participated," Gagan said

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AlvarezGalloso

at 11:44 on October 28th, 2009

Thank you amyjudd for this story. I am a father of a 14 year old daughter and this scares me. The people who participated in the rape should receive life sentences. Those who did not report it also deserve blame.

jazzyzazzy

at 13:57 on October 28th, 2009

Awe ma heart goes out to the wee girl,but.........glad they caught the culprits.It is getting to the stage that mothers and fathers need to lock up their daughters.

Jeri Madden (not verified)

at 10:32 on October 29th, 2009

My heart goes out to this girl and her family. The bystanders are cowards. I would never think twice to help someone in danger. I would probably get hurt myself because my own safety wouldn't be my first thought. I wish I had a ton of money to give to this girl and family so she can attend any school she choses. She deserves a better future for all she suffered during those 2 1/2 hours. I would love to hear what the boy's parents have to say about them. (I can only imagine what type of parents they are).

jvbineugene (not verified)

at 19:26 on October 29th, 2009

Richmond,Ca. is a lost city,it can not be changed or saved.

Runaway1956 (not verified)

at 07:59 on November 2nd, 2009

It appears that most of these rapists were Latinos. How many of them are illegal aliens? And, how many of them are the sons of illegal aliens? Our nation is being invaded by illegal aliens, who impose an alien culture on us. That alien culture holds that women are chattel, and men must project an aura of "machismo". An unprotected woman is just prey to these people. So - how many are illegal aliens, and how many are US Citizens?

Runaway 1956 (not verified)

at 08:16 on November 2nd, 2009

www.news10.net/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=52693Examine the names, and see the parallels. I see a cultural problem - a culture of predators taking what they want.www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/31/california.gang.rape/index.htmlYou might wish to visit CNN and ask why they censor comments. Hundreds of questions and comments have disappeared from their "politically correct" forum.

jen jeffys (not verified)

at 21:44 on November 3rd, 2009

Are they even here legally?!!? Send them back to Mexico!!! Why do we need "people" like this here? Kill them or if the law won't allow for them to be killed deport them and their worthless families.

Legal (not verified)

at 21:33 on November 4th, 2009

To all those wondering is these pieces of garbage are illegal: does that really matter? What do you really know about Mexican culture? If everything you know comes from your grandparents who also hate anyone else that looks different from them, or if it comes from watching all your FOX News, please go hang yourself off the same tree your ancestors used for their slaves. It was the WHITE man who brought slavery to this country and RAPED, MURDERED, TORTURED without remorse. Please go die with these criminals. Your ignorance is more disgusting to me than the rapes your forefathers commited which you still ignore today. Pathetic.

J B Janes (not verified)

at 13:08 on November 10th, 2009

Sorry to bust your racist bubble but Mexico also held slaves. Not only that, but to this day, blacks are treated inferior to Mexicans even in the US. Did you know Mexico now has pink taxis that are just for women because they are sick of being treated as sex objects? Your ignorance is even more disgusting because I suspect you are hispanic and know nothing of your own depraved culture.

CeCiee (not verified)

at 11:50 on November 5th, 2009

im sorry too hear of what happened..to this young lady..i heard the story first in school in my chemistry class.. i dont think that ethnicity has any role in this. i do believe that all these young and old men are NASTY AND SHOULD BE PUNISHED GREATFULLY FOR THEIR ACT. but face it black white asian mexican whatever there is always someone in each nationality who is a rapest.check it on the internet. this young lady didnt not deserve to be raped and abused that night the way that she was its a horrible act and harsh too feel.i was raped when i was younger and its something hard to over come. for those who watched they shall be punished.but it is not our duty to judge anyone for they will have to face GOD and the trimph he gives them all that we can do is make sure that we and others around us know what's going on in the world and keep out of being alone on the streets pay close attention too all surroundings and keep 9-1-1 in mind .teach your children cousins sisters and brothers about staying safe and as far away from situations such as this. tell them too never leave in the night alone walkin or riding bikes without adult supervision and too be alert.make sure you keep an eye on your sisters brothers and children and other peoples children just to make sure they are safe never leave them unattended.NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE.IF TEENS MAKE THEM CHECK IN OR CHECK ON THEM EVERY TWENTY MINUTES THEY'RE OUT OF YOUR SIGHT..

cECIEE (not verified)

at 11:53 on November 5th, 2009

LEARN FROM THIS.AND MY HEART GOES OUT TOO THE FIFTEEN YEAR OLD YOUNG LADY...FOR HER LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED FOREVER. JESUS AND GOD LOVE YOU WHENEVER YOU THINK THAT THERES NOBODY THERE FOR YOU BABY GIRL THEY ARE..AND JUST PRAY AND HE'LL HELP YOU GET THROUGH IT...IT WILL BE TOUGH BUT I HAVE FAITH IN YOU . YOU CAN DO IT.. -LOVE YOUR FRIEND YOU DONT KNOW CECIEE

SJelly (not verified)

at 19:58 on November 6th, 2009

this is absolutely disgusting. i am ashamed that this would happen in our country. what is wrong with people?

Jan Sea (not verified)

at 15:26 on November 11th, 2009

In pornified "dude nation" what would anybody expect but a gang-rape act-out? The answer is not to lock up the girls but for the girls to learn that the boys are being entrained to be predators with girls as prey --- so girls, stay away from boys and men who cannot be trusted in today's world. Find your own fun and skip their "dances" (a male excuse to purvey the prey). Read the veterans' day headlines today--- male violence glorified, male violence as usual, no matter the color it's a gender war of men against women. Face it, women, live your own life, and let go of the fantasy about "nice" men. The nice ones want dinner cooked for them and their laundry done. Be a target of violence or be a virtual slave, these are the two choices for women in the man-made system unless --- oh, there's a third pyrrhic choice --- you as a woman aspire to tokenism and perpetuation of male dominance against your own kind.I cry for the young woman brutally assaulted and gang-raped by men and boys in Richmond, CA. May she find herself again. May women find freedom from male oppression everywhere. May the moon, stars and seas heal us.