The Hollywood police arrested five teens, Jayvon Woolfork (19), Lanelyn Singleton (18), Patricia Montes (15), Ericka Avery (16), and Dwight Henry (17) on charges of rape, kidnapping, and assault of a 16-year old girl. The South Broward students are awaiting trial.
On November 1st the teens were hanging out at a local McKinley street residence when Woolfork and one of the teenage girls demanded the 16-year old girl to have sex with him: "You have to have sex with 'Jay' or we are going to beat you." according to CBS .
When the teen denied Woolfork's demands the group began to beat her and rip her clothes off- they shouted that they would not relent until the 16-year old victim acquiesced. Still refusing, the teen was dragged into the backyard, heaved down a flight of stairs, and then pummeled head-first into a concrete floor, braking several bones in her face.
After being dragged back into the bedroom the teens tore off her clothes as Woolfork raped her for five to ten minutes.
The assault was caught on video on a cell phone by one of the attackers, which police have confiscated as evidence.
Montes, Avery, and Henry are charged with two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of sexual battery with use of excessive force to cause egregious physical injury. Normally the charges could carry the weight of a life sentence for adults, yet life sentences have been deemed unconstitutional for minors. Singleton and Woolfork have been charged with false imprisonment and sexual battery of a minor-- both have been denied the privilege of bond.
The Hollywood Police are particularly disturbed by the nature of the crime. The Miami Herald quotes Hollywood Police Chief Frank Ferandez, “I saw the video and I can tell you that it was very disturbing to watch. I can’t even imagine what this girl is going through,’
“The question I keep asking myself -- and the question we all need to ask ourselves -- is what kind of young people are we raising in our society?’’ said Broward Assistant State Attorney Maria Schneider, a juvenile prosecutor for 27 years.