2 Students Charged With Rape At Clifton High School
CLIFTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Two Clifton High School students have been arrested after a 15-year-old girl told police Wednesday that they had dragged her beneath a staircase and took turns sexually assaulting her during school hours in May.
Police said the 15-year-old girl told them she did not know either of the alleged attackers, reports CBS 2's Christine Sloan.
"She was, [with] probably a little bit of coercion and a little bit of physical force, taken under the stairwell on the first floor," Sgt. Robert Bracken said.
Police charged Jaime Urbina, 19, and a 17-year-old - both seniors at the school - with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact and criminal restraint.
"She was somewhat smitten by their attention originally which probably led to them being able to do what they did," Sgt. Bracken said.
1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reports: Authorities Say This Is Not A Case Of He Said, She Said
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Authorities said the victim didn't report the alleged attack because she was afraid, but that a friend eventually told officials.
"She had seen one of the actors in the hallway that day," Sgt. Bracken said. "Apparently this upset her, she was emotional, she discussed the incident with her friend."
The 17-year-old, whose name has not been released because of his age, is being held at a juvenile detention center. Urbina is held on $150,000 bail.
Urbina's attorney said his client vehemently denies the charges and should be presumed innocent. Those who know Urbina said the same thing about a student they described as popular.
"I just hope that he is found innocent," said junior Jeremie Figueroa.
Authorities said they have hard evidence that supports the alleged victim's horrific claim, though they wouldn't say Friday if surveillance cameras inside the school captured the alleged assault.
"We had sufficient cause to pursue charges against them," Sgt. Bracken said.
Current and former students told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg that teens are having sex all the time in the school building.
"I'm really not shocked because of the way the kids are in that school – they're uncontrollable, they just do whatever they want," one woman said.
Students, though, said they felt safe at the school, which is one of the largest in the state – and has two resource officers on duty.
"Nothing ever happened to me," student Laura Jaramillo said. "I've never had any problems. I've always been okay."
Officials on Friday were asking students to come forward if they had any information about the alleged rape .
No comment has been made from school officials.
