Teens Plead Not Guilty in Rape Case

Three San Fernando Valley high school students pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl after she had passed out drunk at a daytime party.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Jack Gold ordered that the three boys--ages 14, 16 and 17--remain in custody. The boys’ parents also attended the arraignments in Sylmar Juvenile Court.

Prosecutors are requesting that Alejandro Zamora, 16, and Jose Sanchez, 17, who are charged with rape and sodomy of an unconscious person, be tried as adults. A fitness hearing is scheduled for Dec. 22 to determine if they meet the legal requirements.

The 14-year-old boy, charged with attempted rape and sodomy, will be tried as a juvenile, Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Feldstern said.

Police said all of the accused juveniles are members of a tagging crew--a group of graffiti vandals--who attend Birmingham High School in Van Nuys.

On Wednesday, Jose Sanchez’s brother, Nathaniel Sanchez, 18, was charged with one felony count of attempted rape of an unconscious person. He remains in County Jail, authorities said, and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Prosecutors allege that the four teenagers were among 15 youths--including the girl--who skipped class last Friday to drink alcohol at the home of one of the students.

After the girl passed out, police said, at least six people sexually assaulted her. She was later found unconscious in a bedroom, her body covered with bruises, cuts and bites, authorities said. The girl was taken to a Woodland Hills hospital, where an examination determined that she had been sexually assaulted.

Three other teenage boys were arrested Monday and last Friday. All have since been released. District attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said they remain under investigation. Police said others may eventually be charged.

“We’re not done with our interviews yet, and there are still suspects out there,” said Los Angeles Police Det. Craig Rhudy.

Investigators said the case is proving a challenge because the the victim was unconscious at the time of the alleged assaults.

Before Thursday’s hearing, Alejandro Zamora’s mother, Ana Zamora, waited outside the courtroom for her son’s case to be called. She said she knew little of what transpired on Friday, except that her son had been at a party and there was alcohol served. She said she did not believe her son was involved with graffiti.