( 4UMF NEWS ) Teens Charged In UMass Rape:
Four teens are charged with raping an 18-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Emmanuel Bile, 18, Justin King, 18, Adam Licciardi, 18, and Caleb Womack, 17, of Pittsfield, Mass., allegedly sexually assaulted the woman in her dorm room in the early-morning hours of Oct. 13, the university said in a release.
The alleged victim and the suspects were reportedly drinking vodka beforehand. The young woman reportedly slipped in and out of consciousness during the attacks.
“The victim was crying and used the word ‘no,’” said Jennifer Suhl, chief of the sexual assault unit for the district attorney’s office.
The woman reportedly knew the suspects, who did not attend UMass, and texted them to stay away before the incident, authorities said.
The following day, she told the men via text message that she would keep quiet for $500 apiece, said the defense attorney. The prosecution called the text message a defense tactic, according to Fox 25.
The men were arrested on Friday after a weeklong investigation by the UMass police, reported The Republican newspaper.
“In my entire time on the bench,” said the judge, “this is the most egregious set of facts I’ve ever heard.”
The judge set the suspects’ bail at $10,000 and said, if they make bail, the suspects must wear GPS tracking.
Licciardi was charged with four counts of rape. The other three were charged with three counts of rape each. All four pleaded not guilty. Before this arrest, Licciardi was already facing assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges for, as it is alleged, intentionally hitting a man with his car in August 2011, reported The Berkshire Eagle newspaper.
“The victim and her family are receiving support from our campus resources,” said UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.
