Student Says She Was Sexually Assaulted At High School

Story posted at KIRO Seattle.

Just to show how well the government school system is looking out for you and your children, here is a story from Seattle that shows where this school's priorities lie. Basically, a student reported that she was raped on school campus, and the school, taking matters into their own hands, decided that rape was not serious enough to warrant a police investigation, but that a 3-day suspension of the two alleged perpetrators should be adequate punishment. A 3-day vacation from school, after which time they would be allowed to again assimilate themselves with the student body; with your children.

Police are investigating a Rainier Beach High School student's report that she was sexually assaulted on campus by a classmate earlier this month.

According to a police report obtained by KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, the alleged victim said a male student forced her into a restroom and assaulted her while another male student stood guard at the door on June 4.

The girl then told an adult, who told the school officials, according to the police report. Details as to what those officials did next aren't clear. The police report states that the adult who told the school about the incident was not aware of any official calling police.

The adult -- along with the female student -- called Seattle police on June 21 and filed a report, according to the police report.

The report -- much of which is blacked out -- indicates the students were suspended for three days.

School district officials said they cannot comment on an ongoing police investigation.

I don't know why it took 17 days for the student to contact police, but I find it atrocious that the school hadn't contacted police within that time-frame either. If these boys are guilty of the crime of which they have been accused, they are sexual predators who deserve jail time and deserve to be labeled as sex-offenders for the safety of others. If these boys are innocent of the crime, for what reason were they suspended?

Did anyone recommend that this girl get to a hospital? Did anyone suggest that she request a rape kit? Does anyone at the school even know what is supposed to be done immediately following a sexual assault?

I believe that this fumble on the part of the school system is the result of an ever diminishing view of the seriousness of sexual issues as they relate to children. Culture has slowly and steadily ramped up the acceptance level of teen sex and violence by what is portrayed on television and in modern music. Schools are championing the message that kids are going to have sex anyway, so let's just teach them how to do it more safely.

Rape is a serious offense, a felony in the state of Washington.

Rape in the first and second degrees are considered class A felonies punishable under the Washington State Criminal Code by up to life in prison and/or a $50,000 fine. Third degree rape is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

The school system had no right to mead out a punishment and disregard state law. To have knowledge of a felony and not report it makes the school an accessory after the fact to a felony.

Additional information including the various non-statements and no-comments from the public school are in the story in today's Seattle P-I including the following:

If there is a criminal offense at a school, "normally, the police will be called," according to Seattle Public Schools' policy. But Rainier Beach Principal Robert Gary Jr. would not confirm the suspensions Saturday, citing district privacy rules, and would not comment on whether the school separately had contacted police. Gary was not aware of the police report, but said the incident was handled by the school administration.

"There are things that are in place for discipline," he said. "The situation was investigated and dealt with."

"Normally", why not "always"? If by "dealt with" they mean the affor mentioned 3-day suspension that they refuse to confirm according to the P-I.

Even more interesting is this:

According to the Seattle Public Schools' Standard Discipline for Exceptional Misconduct, the district's guidelines for student punishment, high school students who are first-time sexual assault offenders could receive long-term suspension, monitored attendance and appropriate counseling. A student could be expelled after the third offense.

By the third offense, I would think that this person would qualify as a Level III sex offender.