Prosecutors say that preliminary forensics tests found no traces of DNA on a seven-year-old who was allegedly gang raped by five males—two adults and three juveniles— in a Trenton, NJ housing complex. A lawyer for one suspect told the Times of Trenton, "Of course there's no semen because there was no rape. The whole story was fabricated." The case drew a lot of attention due to the depressing details (the victim was allegedly sold for sex by her stepsister) and outrage from local officials, but there have been concerns that confessions were coerced. Now, the prosecutor will no longer try the juveniles as adults and asked that the adult suspects' bails be reduced from $500,000 and $250,000 to $75,000. more ›

An attorney for a suspect and an "official with direct knowledge of the [police] interrogation" say that the two youngest suspects accused of gang raping a 7-year-old girl were coerced into giving confessions. The Trenton, NJ authorities arrested five suspects, but an official told the AP that the 13-year-old suspect "cried for nearly half the interview and repeatedly asked for his mother"—and the boy even allegedly said, "I should just make up a story to get it over with." more ›

A lawyer for one of the five suspects arrested for the alleged gang rape of a 7-year-old is skeptical of the Trenton police's claim. Robin Lord, whose client Gregory Leary is being held on $500,000 bail, said, "She was not raped, was not gang-raped. I'm 100 percent certain that the 7-year-old was not sexually assaulted. The allegations will not be substantiated by any forensic evidence." However, the Star-Ledger reports, "Police say there is DNA evidence of the crime," and local officials have been vocal in discussing the crime—Trenton mayor Doug Palmer said last week, "We're not finished. Because everyone who's responsible has not been arrested." Lord's mother also told reporters, "My son is a loving child and could never hurt anyone. I feel terrible about my child and anyone else's who is involved in this." more ›

Last night, NJ law enforcement officials announced that five people had been arrested in connection with the reported gang rape of a 7-year-old girl in a Trenton apartment. Gregory Leary, 20, and Tiemear Lewis, 19, were charged, as were a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old. Their names were not released because they are minors, though Mercer County Prosecutor Joe Bocchini hopes to try them as adults. Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer said, "We're not finished. Because everyone who's responsible has not been arrested." more ›

The AP has a depressing story about the obstacles the Trenton, NJ police may be facing in its search for those involved in the reported gang rape of a 7-year-old girl whose 15-year-old sister sold her for sex. It says residents of the building where the assault allegedly took place are in a "quandary. If they identify the men responsible, they risk violent retaliation from the street gangs that stalk the neighborhood. 'We are mothers,' said tenant Shawntel Abner. 'If we aren't here, there is no one to watch our children. You are asking a lot of us. You are asking us to put our lives on the line.'" more ›

This morning, Trenton, NJ authorities made 27 arrests during a sweep of the apartment complex where a 7-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped, after her 15-year-old step-sister sold her for sex. It's hoped that the arrests will lead to those involved with the gang rape. Police say the 15-year-old girl, who was prostituting herself at a party, gave the 7-year-old some cash and "encouraged her to let the men touch her," and then, Police chief Joseph Juniak said, "It went from touching to straight out rape." Mayor Doug Palmer said, "I know there's a place in hell for all the people that participated in this, and I'm sure they will get there." One horrified resident of the building said she would be driven to violence, "If that was my child, I'd be in jail right now." more ›

The woman whose false rape claims put an innocent man behind bars for nearly four years was sentenced to one to three years in prison on perjury charges. After pleading guilty to making up a story that she was gang raped in Upper Manhattan in 2005 to elicit sympathy from friends, Biurny Peguero Gonzalez was hit with jail time. "I question myself every day as to how I could have done this," she told the judge at her sentencing hearing. more ›

The woman whose false rape accusations sent an innocent man to prison for nearly four years claims she was so drunk that night that she started to believe her own lies. Lawyers representing Biurney Peguero Gonzalez—who is currently facing jail-time on perjury charges—say she was so inebriated when she falsely accused William McCaffrey of raping her in a van in Upper Manhattan in 2005 that she lost all memory of the incident and came to believe her own story. more ›

Nassau County Police say four of five suspects accused of gang raping a Hofstra University student are in custody. Apparently an 18-year-old woman was assaulted on campus around 3 a.m. on Sunday. One of the suspects is a fellow student, Rondell Bedward, 21, of the Bronx, who was charged with five counts of first-degree rape. Bronx residents Stan Felipe, 19, and Jesus Ortiz, 19, were charged with five counts of first-degree rape and first-degree attempted criminal sexual act; Ortiz was also charged with fourth-degree larceny. Kevin Taveras of Brent was charged with five counts of first-degree rape; Bedward and Ortiz were arraigned yesterday while Felipe and Taveras are being arraigned today. Police are still looking for the fifth suspect. more ›