VT- South Burlington student faces sex charges

1-2-2009 Vermont:

A South Burlington High School student and two-sport athlete was accused in court today of sexually assaulting two fellow students at the school and during school hours.

Isaac Owusu, 17, of South Burlington, pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault without consent and two counts of sexual assault on a victim younger than 16. The first charge alleges Owusu forced a 15-year-old girl to perform a sex act on him; the other charges are essentially statutory-rape accusations involving a 14-year-old girl.

Conviction carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.

“It’s disturbing for a number of reasons,” said Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan. “They’re kids.”

Authorities also say Owusu asked the girls — and several other classmates — to send him cell-phone messages with naked pictures of themselves, and the young women complied. Some did so willingly, while others felt compelled to submit because Owusu was a popular senior who allegedly threatened to ruin the reputations of the underclassmen.

Possession of the pictures could fall under child-pornography statutes, and Donovan said law enforcement is investigating whether to file any additional charges.

Exchanging explicit photo messages, an increasingly popular phenomenon known as “sexting” at schools nationwide, is on the rise in South Burlington, according to court papers. “It is so common,” said one girl police interviewed.

The allegations came to light just before Thanksgiving, and a month-long investigation followed. Authorities alleged the assaults occurred twice in an athletic training room and once in the auditorium at the school during November. Police cited Owusu, who played varsity football and basketball, on Tuesday.

Judge Geoffrey Crawford allowed Owusu to remain free on conditions of release, including a 24-hour curfew with exceptions for his job at a local grocery store and to attend school. His attorney, Lucas Collins, told Crawford the defendant is considering alternative educational opportunities.

“He’s been asked to leave school,” Collins said.

The superintendent of South Burlington’s school district, John Everitt, said confidentiality requirements prevent him from commenting on a student’s enrollment status, but he said Owusu is “not active as a student-athlete.” Everitt also said students “by and large” remain in a secure environment, but the allegations have prompted a re-evaluation of security measures.

“We have been reviewing, looking at all the spaces in the school as far as safety goes. These charges will certainly make us look again,” Everitt said. “Students by and large at the school are safe.” ..News Source.. by Adam Silverman • Free Press Staff Writer