...is beyond MY comprehension
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Alleged videotaped rape of teen jolts suburb
January 11, 2003
BY FRANK MAIN CRIME REPORTER
A teenage "chugging contest" in an upscale home near Burr Ridge turned into rape when a 16-year-old girl passed out and four young men performed sex acts on her--and scrawled offensive words on her body with a marker--while they videotaped their crimes, a Cook County prosecutor said Friday.
The 20-minute videotape is in the hands of prosecutors, and they also have obtained written statements from the four defendants implicating themselves in the attack, said Peter Troy, supervisor of the Cook County state's attorney's office in Bridgeview.
"We believe there were other people who turned the other way while this was going on," said Troy, who wouldn't rule out additional charges. "This is absolutely disgusting."
On Friday, prosecutors asked Judge David P. Sterba to raise the bail for the four defendants, Adrian Missbrenner, 17, of Lyons Township; Burim Bezeri, 17, of Lyons; Christopher Robbins, 18, of Brookfield, and Sonny Smith, 18, of Brookfield. Sterba said he would consider the request.
The four were arrested on Dec. 12, and another judge set bail at $100,000 each. Their families posted their bail, and they have been free since then. Troy said prosecutors are seeking higher bail based on additional evidence police have collected since the arrests.
At least one of the defendants, Smith, is a senior at Lyons Township High School North, said his attorney, Adam D. Grosch, who said his client denies the allegations. Grosch said he has not seen any of the evidence in the case.
"He is still attending school, and as far as I know, they have not taken any action there because these are just allegations at this point," Grosch said.
The principal of the high school did not return a call seeking comment Friday.
Patrick M. Campanelli, attorney for Missbrenner, said, "We are denying every allegation the state is making," but refused to make additional remarks.
The attack allegedly happened Dec. 7 after the 16-year-old Naperville girl arrived around 2:30 a.m. at Missbrenner's home on the 8300 block of County Line Road outside Burr Ridge, said Penny Mateck, a spokeswoman for the Cook County sheriff's office. As many as eight teens were in the home at a party where they were consuming alcohol, authorities said.
The Naperville girl, who had been drinking, lost consciousness and was taken to a guest bedroom across a hallway from Missbrenner's room, Troy said.
"During the time she was passed out, the four individuals decided to have some fun and games with her," he said.
They videotaped themselves raping the girl, performing oral sex on her, drawing demeaning language on her body with a marker and inserting a cigarette into her vagina, Troy said.
Mateck said the "understanding of the victim" was that Missbrenner's parents were home, but prosecutors said that was under investigation. Campanelli would not comment on where they were.
The 16-year-old girl woke up about 1 p.m. on Dec. 7 in Missbrenner's home, Mateck said. One of her parents took her to a hospital in DuPage County. The DuPage County sheriff's office was contacted but turned the case over to Cook County officials because the Missbrenner home is in Cook County.
Authorities recovered the videotape from a friend of one of the defendants, Troy said. Cook County sheriff's police searched Missbrenner's home on Dec. 30 and recovered what they believe was the camera used on Dec. 7, as well as a television set on which the tape was played and a video player, Troy said. Police also seized a mattress and bed linens.
The defendants are expected to submit DNA evidence, Troy said.
Each of the defendants faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on charges that include aggravated sexual assault and child pornography, Troy said. Their next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Bridgeview.
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Alleged videotaped rape of teen jolts suburb
January 11, 2003
BY FRANK MAIN CRIME REPORTER
A teenage "chugging contest" in an upscale home near Burr Ridge turned into rape when a 16-year-old girl passed out and four young men performed sex acts on her--and scrawled offensive words on her body with a marker--while they videotaped their crimes, a Cook County prosecutor said Friday.
The 20-minute videotape is in the hands of prosecutors, and they also have obtained written statements from the four defendants implicating themselves in the attack, said Peter Troy, supervisor of the Cook County state's attorney's office in Bridgeview.
"We believe there were other people who turned the other way while this was going on," said Troy, who wouldn't rule out additional charges. "This is absolutely disgusting."
On Friday, prosecutors asked Judge David P. Sterba to raise the bail for the four defendants, Adrian Missbrenner, 17, of Lyons Township; Burim Bezeri, 17, of Lyons; Christopher Robbins, 18, of Brookfield, and Sonny Smith, 18, of Brookfield. Sterba said he would consider the request.
The four were arrested on Dec. 12, and another judge set bail at $100,000 each. Their families posted their bail, and they have been free since then. Troy said prosecutors are seeking higher bail based on additional evidence police have collected since the arrests.
At least one of the defendants, Smith, is a senior at Lyons Township High School North, said his attorney, Adam D. Grosch, who said his client denies the allegations. Grosch said he has not seen any of the evidence in the case.
"He is still attending school, and as far as I know, they have not taken any action there because these are just allegations at this point," Grosch said.
The principal of the high school did not return a call seeking comment Friday.
Patrick M. Campanelli, attorney for Missbrenner, said, "We are denying every allegation the state is making," but refused to make additional remarks.
The attack allegedly happened Dec. 7 after the 16-year-old Naperville girl arrived around 2:30 a.m. at Missbrenner's home on the 8300 block of County Line Road outside Burr Ridge, said Penny Mateck, a spokeswoman for the Cook County sheriff's office. As many as eight teens were in the home at a party where they were consuming alcohol, authorities said.
The Naperville girl, who had been drinking, lost consciousness and was taken to a guest bedroom across a hallway from Missbrenner's room, Troy said.
"During the time she was passed out, the four individuals decided to have some fun and games with her," he said.
They videotaped themselves raping the girl, performing oral sex on her, drawing demeaning language on her body with a marker and inserting a cigarette into her vagina, Troy said.
Mateck said the "understanding of the victim" was that Missbrenner's parents were home, but prosecutors said that was under investigation. Campanelli would not comment on where they were.
The 16-year-old girl woke up about 1 p.m. on Dec. 7 in Missbrenner's home, Mateck said. One of her parents took her to a hospital in DuPage County. The DuPage County sheriff's office was contacted but turned the case over to Cook County officials because the Missbrenner home is in Cook County.
Authorities recovered the videotape from a friend of one of the defendants, Troy said. Cook County sheriff's police searched Missbrenner's home on Dec. 30 and recovered what they believe was the camera used on Dec. 7, as well as a television set on which the tape was played and a video player, Troy said. Police also seized a mattress and bed linens.
The defendants are expected to submit DNA evidence, Troy said.
Each of the defendants faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on charges that include aggravated sexual assault and child pornography, Troy said. Their next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Bridgeview.
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