Spur Posse Youth Pleads No Contest in Girl’s Assault

A 16-year-old member of a Lakewood High School gang admitted in court Monday that he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl and was sentenced to a county juvenile facility, authorities said.

The boy, whose name was not released because of his age, was one of two teen-agers charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office after allegations that members of the Spur Posse raped underage girls and kept points to chronicle their sexual conquests.

James Hickey, the deputy district attorney in charge of Los Padrinos Juvenile Facility, said the boy, by entering a no-contest plea in court, admitted to a single charge of lewd conduct with a child under age 14.

The boy will serve at least eight months and possibly as long as a year in the custody of juvenile authorities, Hickey said. The youth is to remain at Los Padrinos for the next two to three months, until a space opens up at Kirby House, an East Los Angeles juvenile facility.

While in custody, the teen-ager will enter a rehabilitation program that specializes in dealing with sexual assaults, Hickey said.

The boy had pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last month, but changed his plea this week. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents the victim--now 11 years old--greeted the news with optimism.

“We are pleased with the result, and we hope this will inspire other victims to come forward,” she said. “It sends a clear message that a criminal act has been committed and that boys must be accountable for their actions.”

Kathy Stark, who has said that her 15-year-old daughter was threatened by a Spur Posse member last year, was also pleased.

“I’m glad he fessed up to it,” Stark said. “I’m glad he’s going to get some time. The kid needs help. All these kids need help, and their parents need help too.”

The Lakewood High School sex scandal broke last month when sheriff’s deputies arrested nine Spur Posse members, drawing national media attention to the middle-class suburb in southeastern Los Angeles County.