Teen Rape Suspect Faces Charges As Adult

Finally, some good news.

I don't know how beneficial it will be for the 16 year old, or anyone else, to be reminded time after time that it is OK to commit a sex crime if you are mentally disabled.

"I don't know how beneficial it will be for the 16 year old, or anyone else, to be reminded time after time that it is OK to commit a sex crime if you are mentally disabled."

Really. This excuse is getting really old. "Mentally disabled" does not necessarily mean you can't tell right from wrong. My best friend's mom is a retired teacher of mentally disabled kids and she concurs that with very few exceptions, these kids know when they are doing something they're not supposed to be doing. Yes, they might not be able to make change from $10 or read at 10th grade level but mentally disabled does not equal social miscreant.

If he's a special kid and that?s going to be part of the excuse, shouldn?t DYFS be questioning why he was allowed to be in a home without parental supervision?

Exactly realistic.. and a learning disability does not always equal mentally disabled. I find it offensive that they may use this as a defense. This boy is well known to certain members in the community, he has had a tough time of it, and been shown compassion from groups of parents during certain sports related times of his life. All of the people involved should take responsibility for their actions, including the kids "egging" them on...
They all jumped off the cliff together.

ps. Anyone who knows this 16 year old would understand that this is a boy who has the attitude and the stature to say "no."

Let us keep the young girl, the only victim in this case in our thoughts.

It is in the job description for a defense attorney that he should attempt to, uh, get his client cleared. (Darn that justice system of ours!) So why do folks seem to be surprised by Mr. Ferrante's efforts?

It is also somewhat unfortunate that Bewise, who apparently knows Ferrante's client or at least knows of him (perhaps from his/her children?), posts as if his physical appearance and experiences in local sports leagues seem to indicate his guilt as well. This is jumping to far too many conclusions all at once, as is Bewise's seeming indictment of parents who mkay have known and "helped" (whatever that means) the accused. I can only surmise that Bewise is trying to get the old virtual lynch mob going again here. And on even less "evidence" than usual.

I probably should add, for the dense out there, that Bewise's "stature" argument is rather nicely dealt with by even a perfunctory reading of "Of Mice And Men."

But all the speculation about this matter on Baristanet certainly does help winnow out somewhat the potential juryl pool for this one in Essex County.

I find it interesting that Darden voluntarily submitted to being charged as an adult.

That tells me that there is either more to the story than we've heard thus far or that the lawyer is hoping to use that as a bargaining chip for later sentencing if his client is found guilty.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Does anyone know how the poor girl is faring? The last I heard she was in the hospital with ruptured organs (or something to that effect).

"This is not a case of privileged athletes abusing a young girl," he said. "There is a lot more to it."

Yes, it's a case of underpriviledged kids, some who may or may not be athletes, abusing a young girl.

As for "Lenny" let's hope he meets the same fate.

"Does anyone know how the poor girl is faring? The last I heard she was in the hospital with ruptured organs (or something to that effect)."

Hence my anger at the defense. Let's just hope the prosecuting team is just as pugnacious if not more so.

Cathar, your comments are rude and off base, except of course your comments about a defense attorney. I guess I was too appalled to be a devils advocate.

There is one victim of "violence" here and one only. The young girl who has suffered.

Yes, this young man is bigger than the girl, and made a choice. However, whatever his size, he could have chosen to help her instead, as could have any of the "attendees".

And as all things his guilt or innocence will be decided in a court of law.

In the future, I will try to not let my emotions and knowledge get in the way of future posts.

Bewise, no, my comments weren't at all "rude and off base." You were trying to both prosecute and punish, you silly goose, and to do so as a matter of feigned moral superiority. That this seems "so Baristaville" doesn't make it right.

By all means, try not in the future to let your emotions or your limited knowledge of the matter get in the way whatever you post whenever you post, however.