Five Hispanic teens were arrested and charged with rape after a 17-year-old North Carolina girl was found beaten and brutally raped in a field, authorities report.
A resident of a Mint Hill apartment complex found the girl lying naked and unconscious in a field behind the building.
An investigation led to the arrests of five Hispanic teens, including two juveniles.
WSOC TV reported that Jhovany Roman, 17, and Felix Reyes, 16, and two 15-year-old juveniles were charged with one count of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree sex offense, one count of assault by strangulation inflicting physical injury, and three counts of felony conspiracy.
Additionally, 16-year-old Eduardo Garcia was charged with three counts of felony conspiracy.
The victim was sent to Novant Hospital in Charlotte, but her condition was not reported.
Police said the victim showed “apparent signs of a violent sexual assault” when she was discovered and that there may be more suspects charged.
A member of Jhovany Roman’s family said all the teens were truant from school on Thursday and were having a party in the apartment complex. A witness also said that there was video taken of the rape.
The suspects have all been assigned public defenders and will appear in court at the end of November and early December.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com