Wednesday Reads: Charges Pending in After Prom Rape Case
Posted: May 21, 2014 Filed under: 2014 elections, Climate Change, Cuba, Environment, Environmental Protection, Foreign Affairs, Hillary Clinton, morning reads, Nigeria, Rape Culture, Violence against women | Tags: #bringbackourgirls, Boko Haram, Calhoun High School Georgia, Ellijay Georgia Calhoun High Prom Rape, Gilmer County GA, Michelle Nunn, Mitch McConnell, Southeast Whitfield High School Georgia 86 Comments
Good Morning
I’ve been so wrapped up in the rape case dealing with nearby Calhoun, Georgia…that I have not paid much attention to anything else.
One newspaper from Dalton has the most up to date and thorough report of the assault since it was first reported. From the Dalton Daily Citizen: Charges pending against students in post-prom rape
The alleged rape of a 18-year-old female high school student the Saturday night of May 10 or 11 is being investigated by Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office detectives and the district attorney’s office, Sheriff Stacy Nicholson said Monday. The incident at 20 Edgewater Drive in Coosawattee River Resort primarily involved older teenagers from Calhoun High School who traveled here after their high school prom — and brought plenty of alcohol with them.
A student from Southeast Whitfield High School was also involved, Nicholson confirmed. The parents of one of the Calhoun students own the cabin, according to a sheriff’s office release.
The article continues,
The GBI crime lab is examining evidence from a sexual assault exam kit that includes DNA sampling, Nicholson said. An incident report defines what is alleged to have happened as “strongarm rape.” Three Calhoun High males and the Southeast male student are listed as suspects in the report.
“There was enough alcohol there to float a canoe down the Coosawattee River,” Nicholson said.
“Right at 27 kids came over here (to Ellijay),” he continued. “It doesn’t look like it was planned to be that big a party, (and) there is some evidence her parents didn’t know it was going to be that big — it was supposed to be 6 to 8 girls — there was maybe one or two that were not drinking. The next day the victim, who had some injuries, was taken by her family to the Calhoun hospital, but they were not set up to do the sexual assault exam and she was brought to North Georgia Medical Center.”
The first week after the incident was spent by investigators interviewing the kids involved, he said, with more follow-up interviews this week.
“At this point we have taken some evidence that is being examined by the GBI and their crime lab, and we’re waiting for results,” Nicholson explained. “My detectives and I have had multiple discussions about this case, and with the district attorney. We’ve got help from the DA’s investigators and limited assistance of the GBI in interviewing folks. We want to wait until our forensics come back before we do anything more. No arrests have been made but several are pending.”
He said charges could range from the sexual assault itself to “numerous people” lying to investigators and underage alcohol consumption.
Nicholson was asked if he knew where the alcohol was obtained.
“No, and that’s not the main focus, but it certainly is a focus,” he replied. “It appears that that can’t be linked to one person or the owners of the cabin solely. It looks like there were just a whole host of people that attended the party and brought alcohol.”
The cabin looks as though it belongs to a female student, at least that is what this next paragraph alludes to regarding how the students got into the gated community:
“You can pretty much get through those gates if you have the address and lot number, and I’m sure the girl (whose parents own the cabin) said these cars are going to be with me,” he said.
Property owners “must arrange for any person(s) entry to the (Coosawattee River Resort Association) in advance and must be responsible for that person(s),” the resort’s rules and regulations state.
The Sheriff discussed the investigation as “difficult” but it is encouraging to know that there is charging pending. After so long a period of silence…this was all the investigators needed to say.
“Number one, you’ve got a bunch of teenagers, and secondly, they were drinking moderately to heavily — and a lot of their memories are not clear,” he explained. “So we’ve had to wade through the muddy, vague waters to piece together the story. It’s been like a jigsaw puzzle. What I see here is a group of decent kids who were celebrating a milestone in their lives, and they threw alcohol in the mix. They were completely unattended by any adult supervision whatsoever, and a really bad thing has happened.”
Nicholson said after listening to a three-hour interview of the alleged victim and seeing the evidence, he was “disturbed.”
Does he think the evidence will be returned before Calhoun High’s graduation Friday night?
“A rush request has been made by the district attorney’s office, but I’d be afraid to say,” he replied. “The (Calhoun) superintendent has asked me if I can officially give her the suspects’ names. She’s extremely concerned about graduation, about what kind of riot or circus that may turn into. But that’s for her and Gordon (County) and Calhoun to deal with … I don’t think we’ll be making an arrest by Friday.”
Nicholson said an “insinuation” has been made against his department during the investigation.
“It came completely out of the blue, that we are not looking at this hard because the victim may or may not have ingested alcohol,” he shared. “I can tell you that that’s absolutely not the truth. There are legal hurdles we have to be able to jump (to provide evidence to prosecutors), and we’re making every effort we can make to jump those hurdles. It is my intention, as it stands right now, to arrest the three individuals that are responsible for this assault.”
At any rate, it is good to know that things are moving along. I hope the graduation goes well, rumors have it that the victim will be attending.
The only other new information I have found is that according to one news report:
The police report lists the victim and five witnesses, willing to initially step forward and talk about what happened.
Still no information about the Southeast Whitfield High student that is supposedly a suspect. Will he be allowed to walk at his graduation ceremony? Guess we shall see. I will keep you in the loop.
The rest of the links just here in dump fashion (Key word being “dump”):
The turtle won his primary:
Tuesday night primaries: McConnell, Nunn win big | Al Jazeera America
Hey Ralph, check it out:
Hillary Clinton’s Book Tour Watch: Early Stops in Austin and San Francisco | Still4Hill
From the Black Agenda Report:
Questioning the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign | Black Agenda Report
Eritrea: The Cuba of Africa | Black Agenda Report
Some serious concerns for nuke power plants:
How Rising Seas Could Sink Nuclear Plants On The East Coast
And this headline alone is something I could not resist, here is where the “dump” part comes in:
Evil-Slaying Elf Arrested After Defeating Portland Woman’s Car | Mediaite
Ah, Portland. Stumptown police responded over the weekend to a call that a “pirate” was attacking a woman’s car; they arrived to find not a pirate but a man claiming to be an evil-slaying elf, who was promptly arrested.
A woman who had stopped her car at an early morning traffic light in Northeast Portland (figures) said a man ran out from the side of the street, dressed in chain mail and brandishing a sword and shield, and began assaulting her car.
Konrad Bass told authorities he was “high-elf engaged in battle with the evil Morgoth.” After being shuttled to a nearby hospital, he admitted to taking LSD, which explains a good deal of this post. Bass was charged with “criminal mischief,” but not before striking a blow for whatever his cause: the woman’s car now has several sword slashes on its side.
Consider this an open thread.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
grayslady
mablue2
JJ Lopez aka Minkoff Minx
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
What a sad story and one of the saddest aspects is that once again bad decisions by parents seem to be a contributing factor. As a parent I realize you can’t control everything your teen does, but you can control what you, as a parent, consent to. I hope the victim gets the love and support she needs without being victimized again by the community.
Catholic church have a shit-hissy fit
From JMG:
Philadelphia Archbishop Has The Sadz
“The federal district court decision striking down Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act is a mistake with long-term, negative consequences. Like many other Pennsylvanians, I hope that an appeal will be made promptly. Laws that defend the traditional definition of marriage were enacted for sound reasons—namely to defend the rights of children and contribute to the well-being of the larger community. Marriage is more than a private arrangement between two people. It’s a public commitment of love and fidelity, and it’s ordered not just to companionship but to creating and rearing new life. This is why every child deserves a mother and a father in a loving marriage, and the child is the fruit of that love.” – Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput
Another pillar of the catholic church feigns worry over same sex marriage because the SCARY GAYS will not “defend the rights of children and contribute to the well being of the larger community”. There is so much bullshit in the statement from the Archbishop I’m sure he had to wade out then wipe it off. Truly the catholic church as an institution does not have a stellar record when it comes to defending “the rights of children” and how dare they use children as a cover for their insane homophobia and their fear of losing control of the “propagation of the faith” through archaic and ignorant anti-contraception and anti-abortion mandates on their flock.
Archbishop Chaput, go jump up a mule’s ass, at least then people could recognize you for what you are.
Yes, they all should “jump up a mule’s ass”…damn I do love your comments Mouse!
🙂
Same here on both counts!
Make that 3 for “jump up a mule’s ass” !
Nah, let the mule kick him in his tender bits!
This is a hell of a job: ‘Sometimes you cannot bear holding a camera’ | Al Jazeera America
Bebe is having her EOCT exams today in math which is dealing with this exact issue, that the “stuff” taught during the year is not what is tested on: Common Core’s secrets: Why NYC students are opting out | Al Jazeera America
That was amazing. When I was in school the exams came from the teachers guide or were a compilation of teachers guide and teachers knowledge of the course material. And Pearson seems to be doing a lot of scholastic testing even at the college level. One of my granddaughters lived with me and she was taking several online college courses all the testing was administered by Pearson
Seems to me as if Common Core was a good idea which has been implemented very badly. I would blame no one for opting out of it. Chances are it’s one of those places where business interests (money) has won out over common sense.
Locally we’ve got controversy over the approach and textbooks used to teach kids math:
cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/05/is-mediocre-math-good-enough-for.html
I think Pat Sajak has either spun one to many wheels in his own brain, or has lost his damn mind trying to see where Vanna’s legs end. Or maybe the hair transplant damaged his frontal lobe. The Wheel needs a new short guy.
Via Raw Story:
Pat Sajak is a science denier, but did you know about all the other crazy stuff he’s said?
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/20/pat-sajak-is-a-science-denier-but-did-you-know-about-all-the-other-crazy-stuff-hes-said/
Twitter and Facebook were brutalizing him about it. There seem to be a lot of right wing but jobs in Hollywood.
I suppose I need to get on twitter. Facebook though just isn’t my thing. I signed up once and offered minimal info on myself. They immediately tried to hook me up with folks I haven’t seen in 50 years. I don’t trust Facebook. And I read your comment about Google and totally agree, No matter what I search on Google, I will see and advertisement for it or something relating to it flashing up on website advertising within minutes. It’s spooky.
Twitter just went public so they will undoubtedly look for more ways to monetize your information.
I agree; Facebook is all about data mining for profit.
The birth of the Hillary Truthers. They want to see her MRI and read her medical records.
Bob Cesca: Remember When We Predicted Hillary’s Brain Would Become A Thing…?
So what’s next, Pap Smear, Mammogram, bone density test? And Cesca is correct. in the end they will look like “buffoons”. If the last presicential campaign cycle is any measure they won’t make it out of the primaries without making total asses of themselves. Mr.999, Mr. Frothy MIx, Mr. Moon Colony, Mr. “I can’t remember the name of the other cabinet post I would get rid of”. Ms. HPV vaccinations causes brain damage, Mr. Libertarian Anti-social compacts who receives both Social Security and the Congressional version of Medicare for Congress critters. Mr. 47%,
Maybe they’ll run Mr. Bridgegate, Mr. Frothy Mix, Mr. My brother took this country to 2 unnecessary wars and I couldn’t win in Florida again. Mr. 47% part deux. Mr. Dr.Zeuss and Mr. My Dad is a libertarian racist nutbag and I know he is, so what am I?
Ooops I forgot Mr. 999 Pizza Kingpin and serial woman harasser.
There will probably be a different token black Republican candidate this time. I’m thinking Ben Carson who “starting to hear” God telling him to run for president: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/ben-carson-moves-toward-presidential-run_792757.html
This line from the article is priceless:
“If I felt called by God to officially enter the world of politics, I would certainly not hesitate to do so.”
Is this going to be like a Moses on the mountain moment? Is some big finger going to come out of the sky and inscribe, ‘run” on his 4th Generation IPAD? He has a big old bunch of that Elmer Gantry BS style melodrama going on. And as he acknowledged, when you “officially” take the plunge the game changes, Everything he’s ever done will be laid bare at his doorstep. We know how that ends for many of these 30-second wonders.
I also liked the part about “starting to hear things”. Trust me, if God wanted to tell you to run, he’d make it loud and clear.
The truth is they need to have their soppy shitty diapers changed, and Karl Rove is the man for the job.
Les we forget, it was Hillary who helped pioneer HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) laws. In many cases it had to do with rape issues. Your health care records are private, and it ought to stay that way.
Hillary owns her body, not the Truthers. Like the rest of us, we get to decide about our medical care, and who gets to see those records.
Get ready cause now they are going to try to Kill HIPPA…….Anything that she done that has advanced women and our country, they are going to destroy or alter the history. Let them wear those soppy diapers!
Ditto that
Maybe I’m the one who is crazy but I can’t see that being damaging to Hillary if she runs in 2016. She’s obviously always been brilliant and even her enemies know it.
I agree wholeheartedly. They are ridiculous
As if they could read an MRI.
Not to mention that MRIs are a lousy way to guess at someone’s intelligence. In some neurodegenerative diseases the MRI matches up with the patient’s physical & mental abilities only about 30% to 50%. You’d just as well flip a coin.
Thanks for keeping us informed about the rape case. I’m glad to know that a serious investigation is happening. If the GBI is involved, that seems like a good sign too.
Ditto, I am glad to see GBI is involved.
Ditto 2!
You know, if the sheriff’s office made a the little tidbit of info that the GBI was involved, many of the bad feelings and anguish would have been relaxed. Still concerns but like you say it is a good sign.
I was angry at reading “….basically good kids….it was just the alcohol and the crowd….”
There are NO excuses for rape.
Lots of “good kids” get drunk and don’t gang rape anyone.
Oh yeah it is maddening…and then you get the assholes who insist that we are the ones who are scum for pointing out the rape culture in their community.
You got it NW………this is where more training in the departments are needed!
tpm: WTF? This is utterly disgusting!
What the —
They can’t think of enough ways to be evil.
Now that Michelle Obama’s program to provide healthier lunches for children and Get up and move program is lowering overweight/obese children, as well as impacting and lowering childhood diabetes. The GOP is pushing back and wants to serve up starcy foods, like potatoes, French fries, etc.. They know that it (potatoes) is already cheap in the stores, but now they want to undo what Michelle has done, by allowing schools to opt out of her program.
You know this all started with these assholes, they can’t stand healthy kids.
One tidbit from last night’s election results in Kentucky, More Democrats voted than Republicans in their much more publicized primary. Can’t really translate it to the general election but Alison Lundergan Grimes came out wonderfully. She swamped McConnell.
http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/KY/50972/130370/en/summary.html
I think Grimes has a shot, but as we all know there’s a much larger turnout for General Elections. As you said, it’s not easy to “translate”.
That would be a good thing Ralph. With 100% precincts reporting, more Dems came out to vote. So if all those dems would have voted for Alison, she would beat McConnell in Nov.
The republicans have a deep well full of money from the PAC-Super Pacs, they can’t afford to dump it all on McConnell.
Alison was on Fire!
That sounds good!
I’m sorry to hear about Mitch McConnell. This was probably the first and last time I was rooting for the Tea Party to win.
There are actually some things that slither beneath McConnell, and most of those things are affiliated with the Tea Party.
Yes, but McConnell can do more damage from his powerful position in the Senate.
You have a point, but if McConnell had gone down to a TP’er the GOP would have just put an equally obnoxious and ridiculous person in his place. The thing I’m cheering for isn’t for a TP’er to defeat him, but for Democrat Alison Grimes to end his reign of ridiculous.
If McConnell doesn’t add 20 points or better to his approval rating in the next couple of months, he’s gonna get beat.
I’m actually not sure which is worse: Tea Party’s heartfelt ignorance and xenophobia, or McConnell’s faked ignorance and xenophobia.
That is the oldest line of BS in the rape deniers book. I don’t think I can even stand to read the NR article
Same old slimy BS is right.
Headlines from JMG:
BREAKING: Pennsylvania Governor WILL NOT Appeal Marriage Equality Ruling!
MONTANA: First Marriage Suit Filed, Dem Gov. Steve Bullock Welcomes Action
Woman you are on fire today, and thank you for all the LGBT updates!
Thank you too darlin for all your great work here. The LGBT news thing is just what I do. I’m an old gal hoping to see things get a lot better for LGBT people before I get to the getting off place. 🙂
May you see all the rest of the states topple!
Thank you and I’ll drink to that
I’ll join you!
This is interesting too:
I wonder what that’s about
Censorship?
Definitely. Or — maybe some of the football team & brainwashed supporters would be mouthing off slander about it was all her fault.
I am trying to figure this out…………Michele Taylor (Supt. Edu) says she is concerned about Friday’s graduation, about it “becoming a riot or some kind of circus”……………….The sheriff’s departments says that investigating the case is like trying to solve a “jigsaw puzzle”. I am wondering why are they using such terms? Is it the media? We know how the media spins sexual assaults, often they are not very friendly towards the victim.
I am not an expert on the subject of Title IX, but I wondered since Michele Taylor said the case had nothing to do with school, was she trying to cover up factors? Title IX is about keeping the schools safe. I can tell you this, many years ago, my daughter went to another school in another country, to play basketball, and the boys were allowed to have the bathroom, but the girls had to go another area outside the courts, to go the bathroom and suit up. I filed a complaint, and won that case. But in this case, they went to the cabin after the prom. I can damn well tell you this, the school board, the administrators, had better be afraid of people who are protesting and supporting her. She is a survivor, and they better be prepared. If they overlook this, think about what it means? Students are going to think it is ok to go to another county, and do their thing. There is an UP ROAR, and they should be afraid. It is not okay to rape girls, I don’t care what school, what event you go to. We are proud to do our part in stopping rape.
Georgia needs it’s laws updated. Even though the Federal government has included the term “male rape” in it laws. Georgia has not change it. There laws fail to include those that are incapable of consent because of mental, physical disability, or those who are incapable of consent because of consumption of alcohol or drugs. Georgia needs to update the codes.
Go look at the remarks here: Calhoun High School Prom Rape – Topix
Or here:
Rape? – Topix
and it will get you even more disgusted.
The Errors of Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald, by George Packer at The UK Prospect. Packer read “No Place to Hide” for us.
http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/the-errors-of-edward-snowden-and-glenn-greenwald/#.U30VhfldVMh
Hahahahahaha! I was right.
Here’s an example of the Hacker types who support universal encryption along with Ed Snowden and Jacob Applebaum.
http://gawker.com/notorious-troll-writes-letter-to-feds-demanding-restitu-1579158131?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
If they get their way, law enforcement against pedophiles, drug dealers, human traffickers, etc. will be nearly impossible.
I’m personally betting on retrial and another conviction for this vile creature.
Packer:
cue the violins:
How did humans ever live before teh internetz? I hope poor Snowden never has his electric power go out for long. On second thought, I hope he does.
Entitled, self-absorbed assholes in one sentence.
Holy shit: California woman abducted at 15 found alive after 10 years: police | Reuters
I have rage and tears. How many more are there like her in our culture?
Mercy!………………Santa Ana California. Forced to marry him and have his child too.
An attorney puts his two cents in: WTVC NewsChannel 9 :: News – Top Stories – Calhoun School Keeps Rape Suspects from Graduation Ceremony
If she was passed out, she was not capable of consenting.
“Allegations and viral discussion on the social media has created a FIRESTORM of interest in the case. Media is coming from Cahttanooga, and Atlanta, from all over”.
We are outraged, we need to fire it up, and ROAR. How many have we covered here at Sky Dancing…The rape at Richmond HS, the rape at Stubenville High School, and Savannah Dietrich, it’s epidemic in the schools, and everywhere else in society.
Don’t forget the one in Muncie, IN.
https://skydancingblog.com/2010/11/17/school-officials-interfere-with-rape-investigation/
Another one from Missouri:
https://skydancingblog.com/2011/08/16/missouri-school-district-protects-children-from-critically-acclaimed-books-but-not-from-rape-2/
tp: Pope Francis Makes Biblical Case For Addressing Climate Change: ‘If We Destroy Creation, Creation Will Destroy Us’
Climate change deniers just picked up another enemy.
Heh. The RWNJs are going to use the “Catholics are not Christians” claim next. The Pope wants to destroy American business, lol.
Well Timmy is on Jon Stewart is anyone watching it?
Yes. He actually made good sense. I want to watch the whole extended interview when it goes online.
tpm: Poll: Gov. Scott Walker Tied With Dem Opponent Mary Burke