Rape Charges Dropped Against 17-Year-Old in Rockville High Case (VIDEO)
Defense attorney Maria Mena meets reporters in Rockville. | Douglas Tallman
Prosecutors dropped the rape and sex offense charges against the 17-year-old accused in the March 16 case at Rockville High School, a case that sparked resident anger over student safety and national attention over immigration.
“After a painstaking investigation and review of these matters, we have concluded that the facts of this case do not support the charges originally filed in this matter,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy told reporters, reading a prepared statement. McCarthy took no questions.
Montgomery Community Media does not usually name anyone under the age of 17 charged in a crime, even if they are charged as an adult. Also charged is Henry Sanchez Milian, 18. His attorney, David Moyse, said charges against his client have not been formally dropped, but could be on or before a court hearing May 12.
The 17-year-old’s defense attorney, Maria Mena, said he would be charged with child pornography for the explicit images he received from the girl, which she called “egregious.”
Mena said, “She was the one that took footage of herself, video and pictures, nude pictures … and she sent these to [her client] not the other way around.”
If the state wants to pursue pornography charges, the girl should be charged as well, she said.
The 17-year-old’s pornography case has been sent to juvenile court, McCarthy said.
Sanchez has been charged with possession of child pornography, McCarthy said. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years.
McCarthy said the original charges were based on the report of the victim, a 14-year-old Rockville High student.
Subsequently, prosecutors reviewed witness interviews, medical and school records, surveillance video, forensic evidence, as well as phone and computer records using at least four translations, McCarthy said. He also said prosecutors met with the student, her mother and her attorney on multiple occasions.
Mena meets reporters on the courthouse steps here:
Here, State’s Attorney John McCarthy provides his statement to reporters:
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