Rockville School Rape Report Prompts Safety Review: Superintendent

ROCKVILLE, MD — As questions about security at Montgomery County Schools continue in the wake of a student's reported rape in a boys' bathroom and the immigration status of two suspects are discussed from Rockville to the White House, the Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Jack Smith wrote a letter to parents about conducting a security review at all schools.

The Department of School Safety and Security will conduct security reviews at all schools, starting with high schools in early April, after a 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped at Rockville High School March 16 by two students who are immigrants from Central America.

As part of the review, Smith said officials will examine security procedures already in place to determine the appropriate next steps for individual schools.

The assessments will focus on: utilization of school security personnel and other staff; resource allocation and management; facilities enhancements to restrict or limit access to more isolated areas of school buildings and grounds; technology infrastructure, including security cameras, and their use; procedures for managing students outside the classroom; and protocols for responding to allegations of student-to-student sexual harassment or assault.

After schools are reviewed, officials will work with each school on how to strengthen security procedures where needed.

Smith also addressed the "robust security system" Montgomery County public schools have, including thousands of cameras in the schools, school- and central office-based security personnel and a partnership with the Montgomery County Police Department.

"Even as we begin our systemwide security review, my thoughts continue to be with the victim and Rockville High School community as they heal in the wake of this tragic incident," Smith said in the letter. "I am so proud of the students and staff at that school who have come together to support the victim and one another. They are truly 'Rockville Strong.'"

You can read the full letter from Smith here.

Jose O. Montano, 17, of an unconfirmed address, and Henry Sanchez-Milian, 18, of Bel Pre Road in the Aspen Hill area, were charged with the rape, which happened during school hours. Montano has been charged as an adult.

Sanchez-Milian is originally from Guatemala and was attending the high school as a ninth-grader, reports WTOP. Court records say Sanchez-Milian arrived in Montgomery County seven months ago after having been questioned in Texas by border patrol agents and issued a notice to appear in front of an immigration judge. Montano has an undetermined immigration status.

Federal immigration authorities say they have arrested the father of Sanchez-Milian. Deportation proceedings have begun against the father, reports say, while an attorney says the suspect fled gang violence in his home country.

Authorities have arrested Adolfo Sanchez-Reyes, 43, of Guatemala, for allegedly being unlawfully in the country, Matthew Bourke with ICE said in a statement.

Sanchez-Reyes’ attorney told WTOP that the Department of Homeland Security has “initiated removal proceedings” and that he is in DHS custody.

Andrew Jezic, the attorney for Sanchez-Milian, told Bethesda Beat that the teen fled gang violence and "significant threats" to him and his family in Guatemala. He came to the U.S. to join his father, who was already in Montgomery County.

The school's principal, Billie-Jean Benson, asked police to come to the school, which was not evacuated, schools spokesman Derek Turner said.

See Related:

• Father Of Rockville High School Rape Suspect Arrested By ICE
  
• (Update) Rockville High School Rape Suspects In Country Illegally: Authorities
• Girl Raped In Rockville High School Boys' Bathroom: Police
• 2 Bomb Threats Made To Rockville High School In Wake Of Rape Case

The alleged sexual assault began about 9 a.m. Thursday, March 16, when the girl was walking in a school hallway and met Montano and Sanchez-Milian. According to police, Montano asked the victim to walk with him and Sanchez-Milian. Montano asked the victim to engage in sexual intercourse, and she refused.

According to the police report, Montano again asked the victim for sex, then forced her into a boys’ bathroom and then into a stall. Montano and Sanchez-Milian both raped the girl inside the bathroom stall, authorities charge.

Jezic said the sex was consensual and that texts and photos sent from the girl to the second defendant, Montano, will prove this, according to WTOP.

“It’s very clear that there were explicit text messages sent between the young lady and the 17-year-old defendant the night before, planning this type of encounter in the school the very morning that this happened,” Jezic said.

Jezic said the law states that a 14-year-old cannot give consent to sexual relations with someone who is four years older than them. Sanchez-Milian is three years and eight months older than the girl.

On the contrary, Montgomery County Police said they're confident that the case against the two suspects is strong.

Sanchez-Milian has "gotten some threats in jail, but I think he’s doing pretty well,” Jezic said. “He knows what the truth is.”

The case has gained national attention, with White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer using it as an example as to why President Trump is focusing on illegal immigration.

"I think part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this," Spicer said, according to NBC. "We act so many times when we talk about this and say why is the president dealing with this, because of this priority. Well, part of the reason is because of the tragedy that this young girl dealt with, had inflicted upon her, whatever the word is, but this is why he is passionate about this."

Rockville High School received two bomb threats in the wake of the assault and arrests.

According to Montgomery County Police, a bomb threat was called in right before noon and another at around 1:30 p.m. on March 22. Schools spokeswoman Gboyinde Onijala told Montgomery Community Media the callers threatened to bomb the high school and bring guns to the school to shoot illegal immigrants.

According to NBC, Benson asked teachers to take attendance throughout each class period and keep track of how long students are out of class with a hall pass.

Photo: Rockville High School, Google Street View