The 18-year-old Hofstra University student who claimed she was gang raped by five men in an on-campus dormitory last weekend has recanted her story, and admitted to authorities that the encounter was consensual, according to a statement by Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.
The four men arrested on the bogus charge were released from the Nassau County Correctional Facility early this morning.
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“Moments ago my office moved to dismiss all charges against four men accused of committing a sexual assault on the campus of Hofstra University,” Rice said in the statement. ”Late this evening, during the continuation of the Nassau County Police Department’s investigation of the allegation, and under questioning by my office’s chief trial attorney and chief sex crimes prosecutor, the alleged victim of the sexual assault admitted that the encounter that took place early Sunday morning was consensual.
“Following the interview, my office moved quickly to appear before a night court judge to dismiss all charges and request that the judge order the individuals’ immediate release. Nassau County Judge Robert Bruno dismissed the charges and ordered their release. ”
Four men were charged with five counts of first-degree rape following the allegations. Rondell Bedward, 21, of the Bronx, is a Hofstra student. The other three were identified as Jesus Ortiz and Stalin Felipe, both 19 from the Bronx, and Kevin Taveras, 20, of Brentwood.
“I’m so happy everything worked out in our favor,” said Romilo Taveras, who picked up his son outside the jail. “That’s no way to treat people.”
Kevin Taveras said he was looking forward to a hot shower.
Felipe, who heard the news while half asleep in his jail cell, said he didn’t have any hard feelings toward his accuser. “I’m just happy to be free.”
He declined to discuss what occurred Sunday morning.
Bedward, who had been suspended by the university after his arrest, declined to speak with reporters outside jail.
The woman, who remains unidentified, claimed she had been at a dance party at an on-campus nightclub on Sept. 13 and after dancing with one of the men, who snatched the woman’s cell phone from her and left the club. She pursued him outside, repeatedly asking for the phone back.
She originally told police that the man then entered a dormitory and went into an elevator as the woman followed him, Nassau police said. The two got out at an undisclosed floor, where the man met an acquaintance. The pair then proceeded to bind the woman’s hands with some rope and took her into a dormitory men’s room, where they sexually assaulted her, she told investigators in her first statement. She added that three men later entered the room and joined the assault after she claimed she asked them for help.
But her claims were a hoax.
“I have launched an immediate criminal investigation into the statements and reports given by the woman in connection with this incident. Further details regarding this investigation will be released at a later time,” said Rice.
With Frank Eltman, AP
Tags: Hofstra, Hofstra rape, Hofstra University
If a man mistakenly went into a women’s room and pulled his weiner out, he could be arrested for indecent public exposure. If a women went into a men’s bathroom a offered sex she could be arrested for prostitution. Now they say, nothing illegal happened here. It’s the girls problem as she probably regrets gratifying the whole neighborhood, some where even brothers!!! Talk about family togetherness (sarcasm).
Now that we all know the truth, that the girl lied. That they were all having a group sex orgy is a public bathroom. Doesn’t that make them all guilty? They should be locked up for sex in a bathroom. Shouldn’t a person be able to use the lavatory without seeing a barbaric act?
Does Hofstra and the district attorney think its ok to have public sex acts. Was it a mens room and a womens room? Anything goes, doesn’t it.
And now all of their girlfriends and mother are so relived (sarcasm).
Welcome home sonny, I’ll make you a nice warm meal.
A disgusting situation all the way around – just little children in adult bodies
Hey there are some freakniks out there but i am sure the girl did not plan on taking on 5 guys and have them make a video of it. Imagined a half drunk panicked girl who tried to get it on with one guy, had another one join-in and then realized that she was on video. She probably panicked. Anyone in that situation would have probably done the same. This is how gang rapes happen. Some dumb horny boys + 1 or 2 instigators in the group = everyone goes to jail. This will atleast teach the boys a lesson to stay out of such situations.
Are only DEFENSE attorneys permitted on this board???
And they should just as swiftly charge HER, because of the nature of HER crime. Had there been no video these men would have spent 20+ years in jail.
Curious: why should the accused have stayed up in Kingsbridge? If not them, couldn’t she have lied about 5 locals? Would that have been better?
When she realized the incident had been videotaped, THAT is when she recanted. There should be no concern that she lied about lying. Funny, if she is guilty of falsely accusing 5 men of rape you hope she gets help. If they are guilty you hope they get hell. Everything seems to point to the fact that this girl lied but somehow you still managed to make the men out to be animals. Took advantage of her? Yeah, sure. It couldn’t POSSIBLY be because she did something of her own free will, then the next minute regretted it right? Hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me.
I’m glad these men have been vindicated. However, having group sex with this girl was deplorable and dangerous! What decent man wants to put his “thang” where other men have been only moments or even seconds before. What about STDs? HIV/AIDS! This woman was wrong, but these men need to learn a few lessons too. Our bodies are Temples. We should cherish it. If you don’t take care of your body it won’t take care of you. The chances you men took for a moments of pleasure could still turn out to be a lifetime of pain. None of you know what germs or diseases this girl may have. If she was willing to do group sex with you, she’s probably done it with others. You’re all nasty! And irresponsible! No sex is worth my life and my future. And you 4? 5? Dumb as*s boys, yes I say “boys” because you couldn’t possibly be men, damN near destroys your lives for just a few moments of pleasure and could have ended up spending the better part of your lives behind bars if not the rest! I hope you’ve learned something from this and will not let it happen again!
Why is her identity still protect? She wasn’t a victim of a crime but rather a potential criminal. These dudes had their names and pictures plastered all over the place as gang rapists, but this c–t who lied about it gets the benefit of anonymity? Funk dat.