Two Maryland high school students – one of whom has an “alien removal” case pending – forced a 14-year-old female classmate into a bathroom stall on Thursday morning and viciously raped her, police said.
The suspects, Henry E. Sanchez, 18, and Jose O. Montano, 17, are in ninth grade at Rockville High School. Both are recent arrivals to the U.S., Sanchez from Guatemala and Montano from El Salvador, WUSA9 reported.
The pair appeared in court Friday and Montano is being charged as an adult, despite his age, due to the seriousness of the crime. Sanchez and Montano, charged with first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual offense, were held without bond.
“I believe that you are a danger,” District Judge Eugene Wolfe told Sanchez, according to The Washington Post.
Police say Montano forced the girl into a school restroom after she refused to have sex with him. The girl fought back, at one point holding on to a sink to avoid the assault, but Montano allegedly pushed the girl into a stall where he and Sanchez took turns holding her down and raping her, according to the police affidavit.
After hearing a noise, Sanchez fled, but Montano simply tried to silence the girl, who eventually broke free and was able to tell a staff member, the police report said.
“Ensuring a safe, secure and welcoming learning environment for all of our students is our top priority,” a Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson wrote in a letter sent to parents. “Our staff remains vigilant in the monitoring of our school each and every day.”