VENICE (CNS) - Police today arrested nine male Venice High School students suspected in a series of sexual assaults involving two of their female classmates.
Five other male students at Venice High School were also expected to be taken into custody in the investigation, which involved sexual assaults both on and off campus, said Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Andy Smith.
The suspects in custody range in age from 14 to 17. Eight were arrested on campus and one was arrested off campus, Smith said.
Police did not release the ages of the victims, other than to say they were in their mid-teens.
Smith said some of the sexual activity was consensual, and although the alleged offenses date back to 2013, most of the incidents occurred in the last two months.
A source in the Los Angeles Unified School District told the Los Angeles Times that a group of male students conspired to pressure girls into having sex, threatening to ruin their reputations.
The investigation began on Tuesday, when police received information from school administrators about “a possible victim of a possible sexual assault,” Smith said.
“Our detectives from the LAPD’s Special Assault Section responded, and they conducted an investigation,” he said. “During that investigation, they were able to locate two victims — both students at Venice High School — (who) we believe were victims of a series of sexual assaults both on and off campus.
“They continued their investigation over the next day, and they were able to identify 14 subjects that we believe are responsible for these sexual assaults and unlawful sex acts,” Smith said. “This morning, Los Angeles Police Department detectives, in conjunction with L.A. school police, went to Venice High School and made a series of arrests …”
Smith said the suspects, whose names were not released because of their ages, face possible charges that include sexual assault, and committing unlawful sex acts.
Crisis counselors were sent to the Venice High campus today to assist students.
LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said the LAUSD “is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation by LAPD and school police.”
“Parents of the suspects have been notified. This is a painful moment for Venice High School and this district,” he said in a statement released this afternoon. “I want you to know that no sexual misconduct of any kind by students or staff will ever be tolerated in L.A. Unified.”
Smith said detectives have no reason to believe that there are other victims, but are not ruling out the possibility. He urged anyone with information to call sex crimes detectives, (213) 473-0447; or (877) LAPD-247.
No comments yet.