Three Ellicott City teen-agers were charged with rape yesterday, a day after police say a 15-year-old girl was taken into a bathroom stall of a Howard County high school and sexually assaulted.
The alleged rape occurred around the lunch hour Thursday at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City, a leafy, suburban campus of approximately 1,600 students.
According to charging documents, the girl told investigators that the boys took her into the handicapped-accessible stall in a boy's bathroom. One boy held her wrists while another sexually assaulted her. A third boy kept watch at the door.
Afterward, the girl said, the suspects told her not to tell anyone or someone would "beat her up," the charging documents said.
The girl was treated at Howard County General Hospital, where a medical examination found physical trauma consistent with forcible rape, the documents said.
The Sun does not identify victims of sexual offenses.
The three boys were arrested Thursday at the school and charged as adults. Two suspects told police they engaged in sexual acts with the girl, the other thought one of the acts was consensual, charging documents showed.
"I don't know what to say except I'm shocked and concerned for the parties involved," said interim school superintendent Sydney L. Cousin, who plans to evaluate the school's safety plan.
But, Cousin added, rape "goes beyond the pale of what you can prepare for."
The school system sent a letter home with students yesterday that offered the services of counselors and the school psychologist to assist students.
"We want to reassure you and all of the Mt. Hebron students that their safety is of the highest priority," Bohn wrote.
"The situation was handled swiftly and efficiently, and thus we are confident that Mt. Hebron continues to be a very good school."
Howard County police have charged sophomore Demitris R. Myrick, 18, of the 3100 block of Normandy Woods Court, sophomore Christopher S. Berry, 16, of the 3000 block of Oak Green Court, and freshman Roderick D. Rudolph, 15, of the 3000 block of Oak Green Court, with first- and second-degree rape, first- and second-degree sexual offense, conspiracy to commit rape and conspiracy to commit a sexual offense, charging documents showed.
Television news trucks were parked outside Mount Hebron High School yesterday afternoon as reporters interviewed students, who expressed shock and concern at the alleged rape.
