Four students arrested over gang rape of mentally disabled student at secondary school

Four students have been arrested over the rape of a mentally disabled teenager, who police claim was led to a school room before becoming the victim of a brutal sex attack.

The suspects, who are aged between 15 and 18, are accused of leading the victim to a janitor’s closet at their high school, North Miami Senior High, before being caught by a security guard who asked her what was going on.
Court documents say that during the attack the victim was warned to not report the rape – however she did, and police arrested the teens.

Kenoldo Alexis: The attack is alleged to have taken place in January, but has only emerged yesterday

The suspects are David Lombard, 17, Derek Bynum, 18, Steven Joseph, 15, and Kenoldo Alexis, 17.
The victim was attending a job training initiative at the school before the attack, which took place in January.
Their arrests were only revealed on Thursday, when the Miami Herald released details of the case.

Police probe: Investigators are examining CCTV footage from North Miami Senior High

Police continue to review CCTV footage of the suspects going in and out of the room, while suspect Bynum asked a judge to take pity on him according to court documents.
The four suspects face a sexual battery charge, while Lombard faces an additional charge of battery.
He said: “I feel like I’m being tried and accused of something I did not do.

Suspect: Steven Joseph is accused of being involved in the attack

“All I want to do is graduate from high school, make my family proud and be somebody. But, this case, I feel like it will ruin my chances and dreams.
“I’m sorry. I’m really a good kid.”

David Lombard: The suspect is one of the four to have denied the charges

However police claim that the suspects previously told authorities that he asked the victim to perform a sex act, but then told her to stop “because she was doing a terrible job”.
Suspects Bynum and Lombard are the only two of the four to have entered pleas, denying the charges.

Derek Bynum: The suspect has said ‘I feel like I’m being tried and accused of something I did not do’

The case continues