10 Venice High Students Arrested, 4 More Sought In Alleged Sex Assaults

VENICE (CBSLA.com) — Ten male students from Venice High School have been arrested for alleged sex assaults and unlawful sex acts that took place on and off campus, police said Friday.

Four other students are believed to be involved, LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith announced in a news conference. All the suspects are between 14 and 17 years old.

KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports investigators say they made the arrests after school officials notified them about two female victims allegedly targeted by these boys.

Police believe some of the sex acts were forced and others were consensual.

"We believe that some of these subjects were known to the victims," said Smith. "I can't say that in all cases, I can't say that the victims knew all of these assaulters."

The majority of the alleged incidents happened fairly recently, according to police.

The Los Angeles Unified School District's Chief of Staff Thomas Waldman released a statement, which read in part: "The Los Angeles Unified School District 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. I want you to know that no sexual misconduct of any kind by students or staff will ever be tolerated in L.A. Unified."

The district says crisis counselors were on campus Friday to assist students who might be affected.

CBS2's Jeff Nguyen reported school administrators tried to keep students away from reporters Friday.

Some students told him the arrests happened after pictures circulated around campus of at least one of the accusers performing sex acts.

"Someone posted it on Instagram.  And one of my friends sent it to my other friend. The photo basically came to me.  One of my friends sent it to me," said student Elizabeth Alvarez.

Nguyen also spoke to another student who said she knows one of the alleged victims.

"She's embarrassed by what the whole school is talking about. So she made up an accusation against people that were football players who have futures that are messed up by her being embarrassed," said freshman Amari Pope.

Allen Hernandez and Josh Noonan say they saw two sets of boys being led away Friday morning.

"I saw a look of nervousness and scared," said Hernandez.

"Next thing I see I saw him walking out in handcuffs.  Two kids walking out in handcuffs.  I saw the investigators and I was [thinking] oh wow. That means something happened," said Noonan.

Some parents told Nguyen they found about the arrests from a recorded message from the principal.

"The message said that nine kids were arrested by LAPD for sexual misconduct," said parent Wilfredo Melgar.

Patricia Parker says she ran to campus to pull her son out of school after the news broke.

"Just to see his face and know everything is ok.  And knowing everybody is ok.  I feel better," Parker said.

Meanwhile, CBS2's Randy Paige said the LAPD is giving out few details explaining that the investigation is just beginning and that juveniles are involved.

Family members of the underage suspects filed into the LAPD's Pacific Station Friday afternoon. Paige said families asked reporters not to capture images of the juveniles being held.

The LAPD says the investigation began Tuesday when officials at Venice High School alerted them about a victim of a possible sexual assault.

The 14 suspects, said Smith, will all be arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and unlawful sex with a minor.

Smith also told reporters there was no evidence to suggest the suspects were involved in any gang activity. He was also asked if the 14 students all belonged to the same club, group or sports team.

"We don't believe they're associated in that manner in fact we're not sure all these 14 individuals know each other. But these are [alleged] two victims and 14 subjects and no single thing ties them all together," Smith said.

The attorney for one of the juvenile suspects told Paige that he could not make any further statement at this time.

On Friday evening, CBS2's Erica Nochlin reported that a tenth student was in custody (nine had been arrested earlier.)

She reported the 10th student turned himself in.

Police also told her that some of the alleged incidents occurred as far back as 2013, although most of the incidents are believed to have happened in the past few months.

Meanwhile, one of the suspect's girlfriends wanted to speak out.

"He wants them to know he's not guilty," she said, "he's innocent. He didn't do anything bad to that girl."

A football player concurred.

Calling himself Ben, he said, the sex act might have happened but it wasn't forced.

"Some thing for it to be happening about it now," he said, "it's shocking."

Police told Nochlin they'd like any additional victims to come forward.