The stepfather of the 7-year-old girl police say was gang-raped at a party in the Rowan Towers apartment complex on March 28 has come forward to defend three of the accused police say are responsible for the gang-rape.
The stepfather, who is also the biological father of the 17-year-old, told the Associated Press, "these three had nothing to do with nothing; I don't know why they locked them up," referring to Gregory Leary, 20; Timear Lewis, 19; and a 17-year-old whose name has not been released due to his age. "My daughter said these guys were trying to help her."
The girl's stepfather, who is also the biological father of the 15-year-old girl, said he still believes his 7-year-old stepdaughter was raped by "a lot" of men; just not the three he said helped her.
"If you had a gun pointed to your head, you wouldn't be able to do nothing, either," he told the Associated Press.
Leary, who has been charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, denies raping the 7-year-old. At his first court appearance his attorney, Robin Lord argued the victim was "pressured to make up the story."
Lord said the girl's memory could be corrupted because of all the gifts she has been receiving.
Leary has allegedly admitted to having sex with the older sister, and has been charged with statutory rape as a result. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Downing says while Leary has denied raping the little girl but "several witnesses" at the party have said they saw the 20-year-old "on top of the 7-year-old," raping her, according to the Associated Press.
The victim was administered a rape kit while at a local hospital, and police say there is DNA evidence to support the crime.
Police say the two sisters were at a house party in the Rowan Towers where the older sister began charging men and boys money to have sex with her. At some point she accepted money from several individuals to touch her little sister. The touching escalated to rape, which police say the older sister watched.
The men allegedly threatened the victim with death if she screamed or told anyone. After the rape, the girl dressed herself and left the apartment. Two women found her outside crying and took her home.
As they arrived, police were there because the girls' parents had just reported both as runaways
