Two Accused In Hollywood Battery/Rape In Court
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Two people accused of taking part in the brutal beating and rape of a 16-year old girl in Hollywood made their first appearance in court on Monday.
Lanel Singleton, 18, and Jayvon Woolfork, 19, are charged with false imprisonment and sexual battery of a minor.
Both were denied bond.
Also facing charges in the investigation were a 17-year male, a 16-year old female and a 17-year old female. CBS4 is not releasing their identities due to their age.
According to the 16-year old she was hanging out with one of the teen girls at a residence in the 1600 block of McKinley Street last Friday when Singleton, Woolfork and a teen came from another room and told her "You have to have sex with 'Jay' or we are going to beat you."
When the girl refused, she told investigators all four began to beat her saying they wouldn't stop until she agreed to have sex with Woolfork.
When she continued to refuse, the girl said they dragged her by the hair out into the backyard, pushed her down a set of stairs, smashed her head into a concrete floor and then dragged her back inside to a bedroom.
The teen said all four then pulled off her clothes and then three of them held her down while Woolfork sexually battered her for five to ten minutes. They then allegedly let her go.
The teen told police she ran to her grandmother's house which was nearby.
People who live in that neighborhood told CBS 4's Marybel Rodriguez they are stunned at the allegations. "It's very disturbing I didn't expect this I knew there were things going on in there that weren't to kosher but this was very surprising and upsetting of course" said Kathy Wasconis.
Hollywood police first picked up the 16-year old and 17-year old girls. According to their probable cause affidavits, the girls admitted to battery but denied that the girl was sexually battered or that her clothing was forcibly removed.
A warrant was issued to search the house. When officers arrived they found Singleton, Woolfork and the 17-year old inside.
Investigators also learned that the attack was captured on one of the teen girl's cell phone and seized it as evidence. One of the videos on the phone reportedly shows the girl being repeatedly punched and kicked and told the beating would only stop if she would agree to have sex with "Jay." Singleton allegedly admitted to taking the video.
On the video, the girl was visibly stripped of her clothes and then she told the group she would do what they wanted if they would stop hitting her.
Singleton said they girl only agreed to have sex because she felt physically threatened, according to the police report. He also denied being present when she was sexually battered.
