Girl Accused In Hollywood Teen Rape Back In Custody
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - One of five teens accused in the beating and rape of a Hollywood girl in 2013 is back in custody after a judge ruled she violated her probation.
Ericka Avery, 17, allegedly contacted the victim via social media to say the sexual assault wasn't her fault. The messages reportedly came from an internet address traced to +her family's home. Avery's attorney, Michael D. Weinstein, denied she sent the messages.
"At no point in time did my client use the internet, tell anybody to use the internet, post anything on the internet or say anything to cause anybody to used the internet," said Weinstein.
As a condition of her release on bond, Avery was not allowed to use the internet or have any contact with the victim. Broward Circuit Judge Lisa Porter didn't buy the defense's argument.
"No internet access. That means no ability to access the internet including the home where she was living. So can flush this out in the next hearing but right now I am being asked to review a warrant and I'm going to sign the order," said Porter.
CLICK HERE to watch Joan Murray's report
Seeing her lose her freedom reduced Avery's family members to tears.
"It's my understanding that her older sister was posting things to the alleged victim, but you have to understand my client, Ericka Avery, has done none of those things," said Weinstein outside the courtroom.
There will be a hearing on Thursday o determine if Avery's bond should be revoked.
On Monday one of Avery's co-defendants, 17-year old Patricia Montes, took a plea deal from prosecutors, according to the Sun Sentinel.
In exchange for a no contest plea to two counts of armed sexual battery and one count of kidnapping, Montes was sentenced to four years in prison as a youthful offender. She must also testify against her co-defendants Avery, 19-year old Lanel Singleton, 18-year old Dwight Henry and 20-year old Jayvon Woolfork.
Since Woolfork and Singleton were older than 18 at the time of the alleged attack, they were ordered to be held without bond. Bond was set at $100,00 for the others.
The beating and sexual assault of the girl happened both inside and outside Woolfork's home on McKinley Street. The girl said she was hanging out with the group when they began to assault her.
Cell phone video of the attack shows Avery and Montes relentlessly punching and kicking the girl while telling her that they'd stop if she had sex with Woolfork, according to Hollywood police.
Voices recorded on the videos refer to the girl having been maced. At one point, one of the females is heard asking, "Are you recording again?" before walking over to the victim and forcefully slapping her in the head.
The videos reveal that at least two young men were watching the beating. One of the men is heard saying, "They don't like this girl." One of the females responds, "I told you we were gonna f--- somebody up."
During a break in the attack, when the girl is trying to regain her composure, one of the women is heard saying they should let her go, "Just let this girl get up and go home."
But one of the men is heard saying that she has to stay to perform a sex act.
The victim told police that Montes, Avery, Dwight Henry and Lanel Singleton dragged her into a room and held her down while Woolfork raped her.
Hours later at a hospital, the victim spoke to police about the attack. When asked by a detective why she was beaten and target for a sexual assault, the girl replied, "I don't know. I honestly don't know."
She also told police, "I just don't ever want to see them again. I mean, I thought Patricia, I thought they were my friends. And for them to do something like that, it's just really messed up and cruel, and sick in the head."
Weinstein said they are considering accepting a plea deal similar to the one offered Montes. They have until May 6th to make a decision.
