Saratoga Boys Accused of Sexually Assaulting Audrie Pott Released

After being arrested the morning of April 11, the three boys accused of sexually assaulting their late classmate Audrie Pott were released to their parents and placed on house arrest the morning of Saturday, April 20.

According to NBC Bay Area News, the 16-year-old young men were ordered to wear metal ankle bracelets and remain under the custody of their parents. Two of the boys attend Saratoga High School and one attends Christopher High School in Gilroy.

After a seven-month investigation and originally charging them in September with misdemeanor sexual battery, Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies arrested the boys and charged them with two counts of sexual battery—

The boys had a couple of detention hearings during their time at San Jose Juvenile Hall on Guadalupe Parkway. Their identities are not being released because they're minors. All three were in the school's football team.

Audrie, 15, attempted suicide Sept. 10, 2012 at her mother's home in Los Altos after authorities say she was bullied and sexually assaulted by the boys. She died two days later at a local hospital on Sept. 12.

The girl's tragic end came eight days after attending a party at a friend's house in Saratoga during Labor Day weekend Sept. 2, 2012, drinking alcohol laced with Gatorade becoming intoxicated and unconscious and being sexually assaulted by the boys, according to authorities. 

It's also alleged that at least one photograph was taken of the incident and distributed in person and via text messages with students at the school.

When Audrie awoke the next day, her shorts had been removed and her intimate parks had been marked with writing or drawings, according to family attorney Robert Allard, who's filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the boys and the owners of the home where the party took place.

While on house arrest, the ankle bracelet will track the youths' movements at all times and must be worn continually. Sometimes suspects on house arrest are allowed to leave their residences, but such privileges must be cleared with the court.

The boys' attorneys, Eric Geffon, Alan Lagod and Bejamin Williams, have not answered several emails and phone calls seeking comment. Last week, Lagod said in a brief phone conversation with Saratoga Patch that they would not be commenting on the allegations of the wrongful death lawsuit until a future date.

—Comprehensive coverage of the Audrie Pott case can be found on our topic page by clicking here.