Watch CBS News

Police Say Gang Rape Of Girl, 11, Was Videotaped

RIVERSIDE (AP) — An 11-year-old girl who was gang raped in a videotaped attack by a group of teenage boys in Moreno Valley has the mental capacity of a 5-year-old, court documents reveal.

A police search warrant obtained Friday by the Riverside Press-Enterprise said that one of the suspects told detectives that another boy had filmed at least 10 minutes of the March 10 attack in a park bathroom.

But when police searched that boy's cell phone, the video had been deleted.

The warrant says investigators are searching for text messages sent before and after the attack.

Four boys, ages 15 to 17, and the only adult charged in the brutal attack, 19-year-old Michael Sykes have denied allegations of rape, sodomy and other charges.

Authorities said that the young victim, who was new in town, was walking home from school when an older girl asked her if she wanted to get her nails done. Eventually the teenage girl led the victim to the park and the boys were alerted, possibly by text message. The boys came to the park restroom where the attack occurred.

Prosecutors want to try the four younger teens as adults because of the severity and premeditated nature of the attack. They are due back in juvenile court Monday where probation officers will present a report into whether they should be tried as adults.

Prosecutors are not seeking adult charges against the older girl and two other boys arrested in the case.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.