Tuesday, March 21, 2000
Rape suspects back in school
Mason schools officials say they no choice
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
and SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — Three eighth-grade boys were allowed to return to class at Mason Middle School, even though three girls they are accused of sexually assaulting also are students there.
One of the boys was arrested again Monday on a charge of violating a judge's order not to have contact with the girls. The boy is accused of phoning one of them after his release last week from the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center.
School officials said they didn't have a say on whether the boys were allowed back in class because a judge ordered them to return to school and it was not a school incident.
“The students were ordered back to school by the courts,” said district spokeswoman Shelly Benesh. “Since it was a nonschool event, we are not involved with the discipline.”
Angry parents have made anonymous phone calls to Principal Scott Inskeep, who said he's doing his best to keep the students apart.
School officials said the six students don't share classes. All three boys were in school Monday, and two of the girls were absent, Mr. Inskeep said.
“We're going to do everything we can to keep all six students separated,” he said after talking to their parents on
Monday. “It's the prudent thing to do to help the families.”
Middle school parents received a brief letter Monday from Mr. Inskeep, skirting any detail but saying the incident was under police investigation.
The boys, ages 13 and 14, were charged early last week with rape and sexual battery March 11 involving three 14-year-old girls who also are eighth-graders.
Details are sketchy, and police referred all questions to the prosecutor's office.
Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver said the incident occurred at the Mason home of one of the girls while the girl's mother was away.
The boys were at the residence earlier, and returned after the girl's mother left, he said. Police began investigating after the incident was reported to an assistant principal at the school, Mr. Oliver said.
At a hearing last week, Erik Peters, chief magistrate of Warren County Juvenile Court, placed the boys under house arrest and ordered them to attend school.
Saying it would be a violation of judicial ethics to talk about a pending case, Mr. Peters, through a secretary, declined to comment. Mr. Peters is seeking the governor's appointment to the vacant judge's seat in Warren County.
Mason Schools Superintendent Kevin Bright said the judge's order left the school without a choice: “Because the court directed the students to return to school, we need to accept them.”
A counselor for victims of sexual assault questioned the decision when informed of it Monday, saying it would have a profound effect on the girls.
“It's incredible to me,” said Donna Kahle, rape crisis coordinator at the Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County.
“It's kind of almost saying it's OK.” She said that, normally when a rape happens, there's denial and anger; and that it would be harmful for a rape victim to have to go to school with the perpetrator.
Mason Board of Education member Connie Yingling, who has a son at the middle school, said, “I don't know how many parents even know. These are allegations at this point.
“As a parent, it is disturbing,” Mrs. Yingling said. “I hope it's not as serious as the allegations. My concerns are more about our society in general. It seems as if these more difficult situations are creeping up at younger ages. How much can a 13-
year-old really absorb?”
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