Youth in gang rapes to be tried as an adult

The juvenile arrested in Ventura County along with seven men on suspicion of gang-raping two teenage girls they lured from social networking sites was charged as an adult in the case Tuesday.

The 15- and 16-year-old girls agreed to meet the suspects on separate occasions, one in March and one in April. The suspects gave the victims alcohol and possibly other substances. In both cases the girls passed out and awoke to find themselves being sexually assaulted.

The suspects were identified as Santa Paula residents. The charges include kidnapping, rape, conspiracy, street terrorism, unlawful intercourse with a minor and rape while a victim was asleep.

Several of the suspects are believed to be gang members or to have gang ties, but it is unclear whether the attacks were committed in connection with the gang. Some of the suspects were involved in both assaults.

If you or someone you know has been charged with sex crime charges, the most important thing you can do is hire a criminal defense lawyer. Defending a sex crime isn't like defending any other type of criminal offense. Sex crime defense takes experience and a tough approach to help you get your charges dismissed or reduced to a lesser crime.

Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney Robert Helfend has been practicing law for more than 20 years and is committed to his clients. Contact his law office right away for a qualified, experienced, and aggressive defense lawyer who will fight for you.