| For Immediate Release Case# 09CF0570
March 27, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FOUR MEN APPEAR IN COURT ON CHARGES OF
GANG-RAPING INTOXICATED 13-YEAR-OLD
GIRL AT HOUSE PARTY
SANTA ANA – Four men appeared in court today on charges of gang-raping an intoxicated 13-year-old girl at a house party. Diego Ramirez, 19, Mario Santibanez, 22, Daniel Ramirez, 23, and Gustavo Gomez, 18, are all charged with one felony count each of forcible rape in concert, rape by intoxication, oral copulation in concert with force and fear, oral copulation by intoxication, and lewd acts upon a child under 14. Gomez is also charged with one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 35 years in state prison. The defendants are each being held on $200,000. They appeared in court today and are scheduled for continued arraignment on April 13, 2009, in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On Feb. 27, 2009, Jane Doe #1, 13, and Jane Doe #2, 14, met after school with Gomez and Santibanez. The defendants are accused of going with the victims to a party at the Orange home of cousins Diego and Daniel Ramirez. Prior to going to the party, the victims consumed alcoholic beverages and were intoxicated when they arrived at Ramirez’s house.
Once at the party, Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 continued to consume alcoholic beverages. The defendants are accused of taking turns raping and orally copulating Jane Doe #1 while she was intoxicated and unable to resist. Gomez is also accused of having unlawful sexual intercourse with Jane Doe #2.
On March 2, 2009, Jane Doe #1 was taken to the Orange Police Department by her mother, who reported that her daughter had been raped the previous weekend.
Deputy District Attorney Mark Birney of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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