WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – Five teens who were arrested in the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl near Winter Springs High School will remain in juvenile detention until at least December.
Tywuan Johnson, 17, of Sanford; Josea Sims, 17, of Sanford; Deoante Stewart, 17, of Sanford; Marquis Pierre, 16, of Winter Springs; and Tobert Alexander, 16, of Sanford; were all arrested on charges of sexual battery and false imprisonment, police announced Wednesday.
On Thursday, a judge ruled that all five juveniles will remain in detention until their next court hearing, which was scheduled for Dec. 8.
Torreano Batton, 18, of Sanford, was also ordered to be held on no bond at the Seminole County jail.
Police said the assault occurred on Thursday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. in a wooded area near Winter Springs High School, near State Road 434 and Tuscawilla Road.
The arrest report, which was released Wednesday night, states that the victim went to cut through the woods with Batton to get something to eat when Johnson and Pierre decided to join them.
In the woods, the victim said all three demanded she perform sexual acts on them, refusing to let her go. She said she complied and continued on to the nearby McDonald's.
When she returned alone, she said Johnson pulled her back into the woods where all six teens were waiting for her. She said they forced her to perform sexual acts on them while two of them had sexual intercourse with her.
Winter Springs police said she managed to record part of the ordeal on her iPod. The video shows several black males asking for sex in the woods.
Police said investigators can clearly hear her say, "No," and, "I want to go back to school."
The victim left the scene and told her parents, which sparked a week-long investigation.
"Before this police department goes and puts handcuffs on anybody for something that's going to follow them, particularly for the rest of their lives, we need to make damn sure it occurred, or at least that we have enough probable cause that it occurred," said Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle.
All six teenagers were jailed and will make their first court appearance Thursday. Batton has a criminal record that includes arrests on charges of aggravated battery on a person over the age of 65, molesting a 12-year-old and possession of marijuana.
Seminole County Public Schools said it could not comment on any discipline the students may face.
"School officials have been notified by the Winter Springs Police Department of the arrest of several young men. We cannot be specific as to any action taken by the school due to student confidentiality. Additionally, the school system has appropriate programs in place to meet the needs of any affected students," a representative with SCPS said.
Dr. Mickey Reynolds, the principal of Winter Springs High School, posted a letter Monday on the school's website stating, "If any WSHS students are arrested and charged with a crime, we will react swiftly in accordance with our district discipline policy."
"Prior to making these arrests, the Winter Springs Police Department painstakingly processed relevant facts, evidence and conducted interviews with several people to determine that solid and proper charges were filed against those allegedly responsible for this crime," the police agency said in a news release.
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