Richmond Gang rape suspect Manuel Ortega. More photos in slideshow below.
It is a case that shocked the country. As many as two-dozen people watched as a 15-year-old girl was gang raped by a group young men in Richmond, California, about 20 minutes north of Oakland.
Now four of those alleged rapists will face their first appearances in court. The teenagers, 19-year-old Manuel Ortega, and three others who are under 18 are expected to be in court on Thursday, October 29. All the suspects are being charged as adults and are facing potential life sentences, police said.
Click here for a previous article on how you can help the victim.
AP News video
More photos related to the case in slideshow below.
To get free updates on this and other headline stories click on the subscribe tab at the top of this article. You will not be spammed. The list will not be shared with anyone and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Comments
I wonder how many of the 24 people who watched (and I'll bet there were several females among that crowd) are products of this G*d D**n "Thug Culture" with its glorification of gun violence, its degrading lyrics about women, and that "don't snitch" attitude about violent crime. And oh, yeah, to buddy who has gone public saying "my boy Manuel didn't do it," you arrogant, self-serving piece of s**t. The subhuman only came forward because of a $20,000 reward. If that 15-year-old girl were my daughter, sister or niece, I'd be wanting to put a bullet in somebody, to put him out of his misery after I'd cut his testicles off and tortured him with a blowtorch.
We need to take back America and instill the values we once had as a society...I am just so sick of this Latino/Mexican generation of poor breeding and the violence these thugs bring.
Although this case is sickening, I am not very much surprised by it. This is most likely a result of of the "values clarification" (I.e. values EXTERMINATION) doctrine being taught in the public schools and tolerated by the parents. I wouldn't be surprised if a good chunk of the students who watched the rape (and those who didn't) cannot judge whether it is right or wrong.
This kind of rank behavior will become more commonplace as God is pushed out of our society and secular humanism is ushered in.
White Guy, you are as ignorant as your silly moniker. Race has nothing to do with this. Rape is rape and has no relation to ethnicity. Just ask Roman Polanski, no wait, he's white and would say that it was consensual and good times right? These so called men need to be punished in the most strict sense. If the death penalty were an option, this would satisfy me.
I shames me to a mexican american. By the way, this is a moral issue. Not classroon, like Chris says. Values begin at home. But, the school system adds to it by removing the word "God" from the system. I would't shoot him, but would beat him to death so that he suffers.
I disagree that values begin at home. Values and morals begin with God. If they begin at home and not with God, then the inference would have to be that each home dictates what values are independent of an absolute moral standard. Conclusion: if parents tolerate atheistic values in the school and allow their children to believe that all morals are relative, then this rape case is also morally relative or "valueless". In other words, it is right for the group that raped and watched it, but not necessarilly so for some other people -- it is strictly a human opinion.
Who said public schools are responsible for teaching religion? Religious teachings are found in churches, temples, and mosques. It comes down to values that are taught by parents and providing an upbringing that respects others. Sorry but G_d has nothing to do with this issue.
Values are an extention of religion. So, if God has nothing to do with it, then humans decide independently whether gang rape is right or wrong. This group of humans obviously decided it is not wrong to do what they did. They believe that "providing an upbringing that respects others" doesn't apply to them. You are a human just like they are. By what authority are these values grounded in? If grounded in the opinions of men, then how can you give any objective basis for saying your opinion trumps theirs?
"Thou shalt not murder" and "thou shalt not steal", are religious teachings; yet, civil government enforces these laws all the time. They stem from God, not man. Yet if they come from man and not God, then it is not objectively right or wrong to murder or steal. If not, why not?
No, God has very big stake in this situation, whether people wish to recognize it or not.
Values are an extention of religion. So, if God has nothing to do with it, then humans decide independently whether gang rape is right or wrong. This group of humans obviously decided it is not wrong to do what they did. They believe that "providing an upbringing that respects others" doesn't apply to them. You are a human just like they are. By what authority are these values grounded in? If grounded in the opinions of men, then how can you give any objective basis for saying your opinion trumps theirs?
"Thou shalt not murder" and "thou shalt not steal", are religious teachings; yet, civil government enforces these laws all the time. They stem from God, not man. Yet if they come from man and not God, then it is not objectively right or wrong to murder or steal. If not, why not?
No, God has very big stake in this situation, whether people wish to recognize it or not.
The ring leaders, Ortega and Rodriguez, were they or their really bad parents in this country illegally? Are these the chosen illegal laborers, or the badly raised children of them, that "will do the jobs regular law abiding Americans just wont do," as Bush, Jr. said? Now today only three Houston City councilpersons(Lawrence, Sullivan, and Clutterbuck)showed upto a special meeting to have Houston enforce 287g and oppose Houston Mayor Bill White's halting it. I wonder how Mayor Bill White feels about that fifteen year old girl in Richmond, California. I say we dis-elect all but Lawrence, Sullivan, and Clutterbuck off city council and elect anybody for Mayor but Ray Morales. We don't need anymore children getting raped by the spawn of those hard working, law breaking, no manners instilling in their children chosen illegal aliens that: Bush, Sr., Clinton, and Bush, Jr., and hopefully NOT now Obama have left the borders with Mexico swinging wide open for decades. CLOSE THE BORDER!
19,arrogant, baby face with feminine features, skinny, and convicted on the gang-rape of a child of 15. Ortega better pray they place him in PC if not he's going to be doing HARD TIME GUARANTEED. Don't drop the soap @sshole.
It is easy to be racist in or about Richmond, CA. However, it is not a race issue. I am black person who is almost a senior citizen, and when I was growing up, older blacks feared white men because they sometimes got away with such things. I have spent most of my life seeing black men stereotyped for the same behaviors. For people who think the lack of religion is the problem, please remember that in these days where blacks were terrorized, most people went to church, saluted the flag, and were in this country legally. My point is, when we're talking about evil, "everyone" gets dirty. No race of perpetrators or victims is immune. In America, every dog has his day, whether his day or opportunity or his day of infamy. We need to refocus on what is important here, and understand that a person got hurt by some bad people and needs justice and prayer. Period.
Sounds like your projecting your own racism "Playfair."
Sitdown, how in the world did you get that from Playfair's statement? The man basically said that as a child, he's old now, that members of his community feared unlawful retribution from the dominant society. How is that his racism?
So sit down...go sit down.
Yeah right Willtard.
LOL..Willtard..thats kind of funny. You're so clever. But anyway, I read a poster saying that they were ashamed to be Mexican...why! Dont' fall into that nonsense that these posters want you too. Those guys that did that crime were those guys..they don't have anything to do with you! Be proud of who you are!
Sociopathy is on the rise in our society and that's a fact. I frankly don't think we have the luxury to incarcerate all these miscreants in nice little jails with cable and workout rooms and libraries and consensual visits on the public dole. We don't have the money. Like it or not, we're going to need to take a page from the Ancient Celts and execute the hopeless antisocials. And I think we need to seriously reconsider the 20 year holding time for death row inmates (that's you, Scotty Peterson and Ramon Salcido).
Isn't it sad that we live in a society where you can get more benefits and love in jail than legally? Imagine this as a "Gang" attack? These guys will go to jail as adults and join their "Homies" and be protected and raised to do "Real Work." I can see them lifting weights, getting tattos, and getting love for taking advantage of someone who did something stupid while drunk. She a victim, but I want to ask her a few questions like "Are you in a Gang?" Did you jump this fence? Why did you not feel threatened? Our society is not understanding what's happening. There is strength in numbers and we show no compassion until we see a victim.
Everyone still wondering why we need that big wall at the boarder?
America for people not animals.
STOP MAKING THIS ISSUE ABOUT RACE! THE FACT IS THAT A GIRL GOT RAPED, WETHER THEY WERE WHITE, BLACK OR HISPANIC DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. EVIL IS IN EVERY AGE, GENDER, AND COLOR!REMINDER TO IGNORANT PEOPLE AMERICA STARTED WITH IMMIGRANTS.GO EDUCATE YOURSELF BETTER.
The attackers are from El Salvador NOT Mexico. In addition a case like this happened many years ago on the east coast and the people who watched and cheered on the rape went to jail too. They made a movie about that attack called The Accused also known as the Big Dan Tavern's rape case (google it). This is not a race issue, this is a violence issue. CA should reinstate the death penalty. Not only will we save billions but we will get rid of scum like this. Jail is not punishment for people like this. Lifting weights all day and getting fed 3 times a day is not a punishment
Castrate the young men and all males convicted of rape. It's high time. Of course, we could subject them to rape as well before castrated them.
Its all about race. They targeted the girl due to her race!! go educate yourself better
I am absolutely aghast that this went on for 2 hours and there were over 20 witnesses before someone finally called 911. What does that say about society today? Also, I noticed none of these rapists were on a sex registry proving once again what a waste of taxpayer money that whole mess is.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!