Four teens (3 boys and a girl!) are charged in woman's rape, assault on pair in Belleville

Four people have been charged in connection with the beating of a man and woman and rape of the woman Wednesday in Belleville.

The man and woman, both in their 30s, were walking about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of North Sixth Street in Belleville when they were approached by the group, according to Belleville Police Capt. Don Sax.

The victims were at a barbecue and the man was walking the woman home for her safety, Sax said.

The following people are charged in connection with the crime:

Rachael K. Howard, 17, of 410 N. Sixth St. in Belleville, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault. Her bail is set at $500,000.

Artarius D. Whales, 18, of 1328 N. 44th St. Apt 11-H in East St. Louis, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault. His bail is set at $500,000.

Delcheva J. Harris, 17, of 1630 N. 50th St. in Washington Park, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault. His bail is set at $500,000.

Aggravated criminal sexual assault is a class X felony.

Joshua L. Harris, 18, of 1276 N. 35th St. in East St. Louis, is charged with aggravated battery. His bail is set at $250,000.00. The charge is a class 3 felony.

The woman was hit in the face and knocked to the ground, police said. The man was hit in the head with an unknown object and he was beaten by the group.

The group then forced the woman to a secluded area a short distance away and sexually assaulted her, police said. The victims did not know their attackers and police believe the attack was completely random.

Police found the four people charged in the crime shortly after the police investigation began, and had them in custody Thursday. The two Harris' are not related to each other. Additional charges in the crime are expected next week pending additional investigation, according to Sax.

The four people remain in police custody.

Contact reporter Jennifer A. Bowen at jbowen@bnd.com or 239-2667.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/11/12/1474091/four-charged-in-womans-rape-assault.html#ixzz15bnuP86b

This is SHOCKING! Gun To School! Would you know what to do if your attacker was only 16?

This clip floored me!

• First, I was shocked to think kids maybe packing serious fire power to school. 
• Second, I was sad that this 16yr old boy felt like he lived in a war zone and that he felt everyday his life could end. 
• Third, came to the realization that this is in LA but with economy and today's mobile society, kids like this are moving out of gang towns in to suburban small towns. This young man has been trained and has a perception of life are set that he has to defend himself to the death and is willing to do anything if he sees its fit. The gang town he grew up with is his perception and he would carry with him even if he left and lived in happy valley.
• Fourth, this 16yr old is so comfortable with carrying his weapon with him every day and has decided he will easily use it without a thought. Unlike most people who would think about what it would mean to take others life, He will not think through any negative consequences if he pulled that gun or knife. He already has and has accepted that its ok to go to jail or die.
• Fifth, the person you may need to defend against for your life may not be an adult. It could very well be a young man like this who is making a bad decision and has the fire power to make a bad decision lethal.

I watched this video and realize that this young boy doesn't look any different then so many 16yr olds I see now a days. Seeing him on the street you would have know idea he is carrying a gun and knife. I have teen aged kids and I was a teenager once, and even if they don't have bad intent, teenagers all make stupid decision in their learning process of growing up. From inflated egos, to proving themselves to their peers, to getting even, to responding badly to failed relationship, kids make tons of stupid mistakes and have horrible impulse control as they are learning to grow up. Heaven forbid if they have lethal force to back up any of ther many stupid learning decisions.

Are you ready? Would you know what to do if a kid pulled a gun or a knife on you? They may be smaller than you and likely to react more aggressively level the field could you diffuse the threat before it got to that point? Do your kids know what they would do? Knowing the answers to these questions could not only save your life but your families as well. Be in the news for doing great things in your life not for becoming a victim of a tragic loss because you didn't know what to do. Ultimate Defense starts by making a decision to be prepared then doing what it takes to make sure you are.