Boys charged with raping girls in Bronx school auditorium

CLAREMONT (WABC) -- Two boys have been charged with raping two girls in the auditorium of JHS 145 in the Bronx.

A 14-year-old boy is being charged as an adult, while a 13 year old will remain in family court.

The school, the Urban Science Academy, is located at 1000 Teller Ave. in the Claremont section of the Bronx.

Authorities said the boys attacked the girls, who are 12 and 13, while they were alone on Oct. 16.

The girls went to the school auditorium around 12:15 p.m. where they encountered the boys, ages 13 and 14. According to officials, the boys took them to an isolated area and sexually assaulted them.

According to the complaint, at one point the 14 year old said, "let's switch bodies."

The girls didn't immediately return to class from lunch, but no one was actively looking for them, as they had cut classes in the past.

One of the girls told the assistant principal, who called 911. The other girl told her parents. Both were taken to Lincoln Hospital.

The boys, who were arrested the next day, have been charged as juveniles. The 14-year-old was charged with third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sex act. The 13-year-old was charged with first-degree rape and first-degree criminal sex act.

The Education Department is investigating, and schools Chancellor Carmin Farina released the following statement:

"I am deeply disturbed and saddened by these alleged events. My thoughts are with the students and families affected by this horrible incident. As a mother and grandmother, I treat every student as my own and every school must be a safe haven. The NYPD is addressing this matter, and we have provided additional guidance counselors and support to the school to aid its students and families during this difficult time."

Parents were deeply disturbed by the allegations.

"Me as a parent, I'm concerned right now," parent Victor Fernandez said. "I'm going in there and find out why I wasn't informed about this...they are responsible, because they are supposed to have somebody in there, a teacher, whoever is supposed to be there. You don't leave kids by themselves."

While Farina said that additional guidance counselors and support were added to help students and families, a number of parents told Eyewitness News they had not even heard of the disturbing allegations.

"Nothing was sent home with my son," parent Liana Ramnaraine said. "We were just up talking to the teachers, and nothing was told to us."

The 14-year-old was arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court on Oct 19 and released on $1,000 cash/$10,000 bond. His return date is Jan 5, 2015.