Initial hearings set in rape case

Hearing dates have been set for four of the individuals charged in connection with an alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman at a party on Dec. 8.

The woman, who lives on the airbase and had only moved to this area with her family a few months ago, was allegedly raped by two men at the party while several others prevented some other females attending the party from entering the room and attempting to stop the attack, court documents show. Those who prevented the other girls from entering the room were charged with accessory to rape.

None of the people at the party who were aware of the attack, however, called police. It was not until the next day that the woman and her mother reported the attack to police, which lead to the arrest of more than eight people, some adults, some juveniles, on various charges in connection with the incident. And more charges may follow as police continue their investigation.

Bradley Strode, 21, charged with rape, battery, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor (six counts), and Kevin Jackson, 21, charged with accessory to rape, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor (six counts), will be arraigned on Dec. 20.

Carlos A. Boada, 18, charged with rape, infamous crimes against nature, and battery, and Chad Gilbert, 22, charged with accessory to rape, will be arrainged on Jan. 10. Those charges are all felonies.

Several other juveniles also have been charged in the case, most with accessory to rape. So far, none of those have been bound over into adult court.

All of the individuals charged so far are now out of jail on bond.

One other adult charged in the incident, David Copeland, 20, has been charged with misdemeanors, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), and contributing to the delinquency of a minor (six counts) for supplying alcohol at the party. It was at Copeland's apartment that the alleged attack took place. Authorities said they do not believe at this time that he was aware of the incident when it happened.

A large amount of alcohol was present during the party and many of those attending were drunk, authorities said, including the victim, who was passed out "or nearly so" when she was allegedly attacked.

Binge drinking parties have been a growing concern for law enforcement. "I feel we've seen an increase in incidents that we've been involved with over the last six months," said Police Chief Tom Berry, saying parents need to be more aware of what their children are doing and where they are.

"Kids will make kid decisions.

"Unfortunately, young people think they can handle alcohol, and that things always happen to someone else. But you are always at risk in these types of circumstances, to be either a victim, or become an accessory."

"They're happening more frequently," county Prosecutor Aaron Bazzoli agreed, concerning binge drinking parties by juveniles and young adults.

"These kids don't have an appreciation yet for how much they can drink, or the effects it has, and bad things can happen," ranging from the possibility of an incident like the one alleged last week, to killing someone while driving drunk. "It always happens to someone else, but over the last few years we've lost a few kids to drunken driving, for example. Lives are shattered.

"We do what we can to warn them, but really, it's up to the parents to educate them."

Berry said in addition to alcohol, other drugs, such as the date-rape drug GHB, in which the victim often doesn't remember what happens, are now showing up on the street and at parties, locally.

"It's time parents sat down with their kids and talked to them. The real world has dangers in it. It's not just a party."