http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060727/1046115.asp

Rape charges against youths racially motivated, families say

Investigators say case is built on law, not race

By NANCY A. FISCHER
NEWS NIAGARA BUREAU
7/27/2006
LOCKPORT - Four teenagers charged in the gang rape of a disabled classmate in May have been released from jail, and family members of the suspects said during a hearing Wednesday that the charges are racially motivated.

"Would we be here if the girl was black, too?" said the legal guardian of suspect Dartain M. Ubiles, who declined to give her name. She noted the victim is white, while the four suspects, all 16, are black.

The woman also said the four - Dontre Woods of Lock Street; Ubiles of Frontier Street, Niagara Falls; Nicholas Smith of Crosby Avenue; and Antonio J. Sheppard of Gabriel Drive - were forced to sign statements at Lockport High School to avoid being suspended.

"They turned [the boys against] each other without involving the parents," the guardian said.

Police said the case was brought to them by the Lockport High School principal in May, and the four were charged following a two-month investigation by Lockport Police Lt. David Barrancotta.

The teens are accused of befriending the girl, 15, and luring her to the home of one of the boys, then using a cell phone to record the attack.

Detective Capt. Lawrence Eggert said skin color has absolutely nothing to do with this case.

"All I care about is the law. I didn't know who was black and who was white. For 26 years I've worked hard to be fair. To call this a racial issue is ridiculous. This case will stand or fall on its own merit."

The Rev. Mark Sanders, a Lockport community policing aide and local pastor, said the four boys are themselves victims.

"I think all the facts are not out," he said. "These boys have already been demonized and tried. It's wrong to make a judgment before all sides have been heard."

"This has polarized the community. Rape and torture is not what happened. When all the facts come out, I guarantee this is not going to be seen in the same way," said Sanders.

Sanders said he has visited the boys in jail in his role as pastor.

"They are all broken up," he added. "They come from good homes. They are athletes who box and play football. These are not thugs from the street. None of them have ever been in jail." Sanders said he also sympathized with the 15-year-old girl and called her situation traumatizing. "My heart is broken. Sexuality is a big problem for teens," Sanders said.

Several family members of the suspects were in Lockport City Court on Wednesday as a show of support.

Ubiles' mother, Katrina, who declined to reveal her last name, said, "This incident should never have gotten this far. They've got them scared. None of this is true."

Sheppard was freed on bail Tuesday. The other three were freed Wednesday on their own recognizance.

The four, who were ordered to stay away from the girl and stay out of trouble as a condition of their release, are scheduled to return to court at 9 a.m. Aug. 30.