Jun 4, 2007 9:53 pm US/Pacific
Alleged De Anza Rape Witnesses Reportedly Harassed
by Len Ramirez
SAN JOSE (CBS 5) ―
Lauren Chief Elk and April Grolle say they are speaking out about what they say they saw, because it's a promise they made to the alleged rape victim in the DeAnza case.
"She's recovering and she want us to be her voice," Chief Elk said during a May 23rd interview with CBS 5.
The district attorney disagreed and decided not to file charges against any of the baseball players accused of assaulting a 17 year old girl at an off-campus house party last March.
The young women say that doesn't mean they have to keep quiet.
"I'm just glad that we are able now to say now what we have said since day one, to Sheriff's, telling them the exact same thing we're telling you," Grolle told CBS 5 on May 23rd.
But both young women have found that speaking out sometimes comes with a price.
"The witnesses felt they were being harassed," said Commander John Hirokawa of the Santa Clara County Sheriff.
Hirokawa says Sheriffs' deputies were first called out to the De Anza campus in March, after Chief Elk and Grolle first gave their statements to investigators.
The women reportedly felt threatened by De Anza ball players and other students who allegedly tried to scare them and intimidate them into keeping quiet, a potentially criminal act all by itself.
"Trying to get them to change their testimony or stop them from coming forward regards to a prosecution could be deemed harassing a witness, that could be a violation of the law," Hirokawa said.
Hirokawa says the students were let go with a warning, and the harassment has died down.
But even on campus, the story remains in the headlines and most students told CBS 5 the witnesses should be praised, not criticized.
"It's not ratting them out, it's doing the right thing. For them to be harassed it's even sadder," said David Given, a De Anza student.
Some say the case, could have a chilling effect in victims or witnesses coming forward in the future.
"That's going to stop other people, if they're going to get harassed," said De Anza Student Vanessa Gonzales. "They don't want that to happen, they may as well be quiet."
Lauren Chief Elk and April Grolle say they are speaking out about what they say they saw, because it's a promise they made to the alleged rape victim in the DeAnza case.
"She's recovering and she want us to be her voice," Chief Elk said during a May 23rd interview with CBS 5.
The district attorney disagreed and decided not to file charges against any of the baseball players accused of assaulting a 17 year old girl at an off-campus house party last March.
The young women say that doesn't mean they have to keep quiet.
"I'm just glad that we are able now to say now what we have said since day one, to Sheriff's, telling them the exact same thing we're telling you," Grolle told CBS 5 on May 23rd.
But both young women have found that speaking out sometimes comes with a price.
"The witnesses felt they were being harassed," said Commander John Hirokawa of the Santa Clara County Sheriff.
Hirokawa says Sheriffs' deputies were first called out to the De Anza campus in March, after Chief Elk and Grolle first gave their statements to investigators.
The women reportedly felt threatened by De Anza ball players and other students who allegedly tried to scare them and intimidate them into keeping quiet, a potentially criminal act all by itself.
"Trying to get them to change their testimony or stop them from coming forward regards to a prosecution could be deemed harassing a witness, that could be a violation of the law," Hirokawa said.
Hirokawa says the students were let go with a warning, and the harassment has died down.
But even on campus, the story remains in the headlines and most students told CBS 5 the witnesses should be praised, not criticized.
"It's not ratting them out, it's doing the right thing. For them to be harassed it's even sadder," said David Given, a De Anza student.
Some say the case, could have a chilling effect in victims or witnesses coming forward in the future.
"That's going to stop other people, if they're going to get harassed," said De Anza Student Vanessa Gonzales. "They don't want that to happen, they may as well be quiet."
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