Collier Sheriff's Office Arrests 14 Men In Gang Rape Case

October 3, 2005

By Maya Rodriguez

Immokalee -

An 18-year-old Immokalee woman says she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by 14 men over the weekend. She is recovering from her physical wounds, but the emotional wounds could take much longer.

"She was bleeding," said neighbor Maria Canales, who the alleged victim ran to for help. "She got blood on her shirt and they bashed her nose. She told me someone opened her mouth and put some beer in there."

The Collier Sheriff's office is calling it one of the worst sexual assaults they have ever seen, but rape counselors say it's not the first.

"We have certainly had gang rapes reported in Collier before," said Beth Knake, a rape counselor with Project HELP. "Whether or not they are reported is a different story, but we have worked with victims of gang rapes."

According to the sheriff's office, this weekend's victim in Immokalee was kidnapped by several men, after answering a knock at the door. The report goes on to say she was brought to a trailer at the 800 block of Rebecca Drive, where she was restrained, choked and sexually assaulted. Neighbors say they are shocked by the allegations.

"This is the first time something here has happened at my trailer park," Canales said.

Counselors say that disbelief is often reflected in victims, too; only in this case, it's much worse.

"One perpetrator is bad enough, but to have so many, just compounds the victimization," Knake said.

It's a victimization that could take a long time to play out in court.

"Because there are so many perpetrators, each of them have their right for their day in court, and it could take months for this to finish through the process," said Sgt. Cathy Lambert, a victim's advocate with the Sheriff's Office.

The 14 men arrested in the case are being charged with kidnapping and sexual battery by multiple perpetrators. That is a first degree felony and, if convicted, they could face life in prison.

If you have been a victim of a sexual assault, you can seek counseling and help at "Project HELP," the 24-hour rape crisis center. You can call them at (239) 262-7227, or from a pay phone at 1-800-329-7227.
http://www.winktv.com/x17736.xml
here it states they are illegal
http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readartic ... 538&z=3&p=