Maryland police have arrested two teens for reportedly raping a 14-year-old at their high school. The two young men are immigrants, having recently moved to the United States from Central America.
The young girl informed police that Jose Montano, 17, and Henry Sanchez, 18, took her into a bathroom stall and raped her, Daily Mail reports.
According to WaPo, because Sanchez has a pending “alien removal” case against him, officials are presently working to deport the youth.
Police suspect the 18-year-old illegally entered the United States from Guatemala seven months ago.
Because Montano is a minor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not release information on his immigration status. However, it is known that he arrived from El Salvador some eight months ago.
Montgomery County Assistant States Attorney Rebecca MacVittie deemed Sanchez a “substantial flight risk” and was not granted bond in court on Mar. 17.
“I believe that you are a danger,” District Judge Eugene Wolfe informed Sanchez.
The alleged attack took place on Mar. 16 at Rockville High School, Montgomery County Police stated. The arrests took place the following day.
The female victim was approached at around 9 am in a school hallway by the two teens, officials said.
Montano asked the girl for sex but was rejected by the freshman, a police press statement reveals.
The young man insisted, then used force to get her into a stall inside the boys’ bathroom, where he and Sanchez subsequently raped her.
They assaulted her as the two allegedly took turns holding her down. She resisted and managed to run away from the pair.
The victim later informed school officials of the alleged sexual assault.
Officials working for the Special Victims Division arrested the two suspects on high school grounds on charges of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual offense.
Montano will be tried as an adult, despite police not releasing his booking photo.
The two teens were attending classes at the high school as ninth graders, despite their age.
According to WUSA, on Mar. 17, Rockville High School distributed a letter regarding the incident and subsequent arrests to parents.
“Ensuring a safe, secure and welcoming learning environment for all of our students is our top priority. Our staff remains vigilant in the monitoring of our school each and every day,” a segment of the letter stated.
Montgomery County Public Schools spokeswoman Gboyinde Onijala said the school will heighten monitoring of bathrooms and hallways in response to the assault.
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