Post by Angel on Nov 21, 2010 15:10:01 GMT -5
Huron Township— Prosecutors plan to dismiss sexual assault charges against an 18-year-old who was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old female classmate, because the alleged victim committed suicide after being taunted in school about the incident.
A preliminary examination was scheduled for Wednesday in the case involving Huron High School students Joseph Tarnopolski and his alleged victim, Samantha Kelly.
But because the girl committed suicide Monday night, the charges will be dismissed, said Maria Miller, spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
"Without the victim, we're unable to go forward with the case," Miller said.
Kelly's mother last month reported to police that Tarnopolski had sex with her daughter. Tarnopolski was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and was released on bond.
After his release, Tarnopolski returned to Huron High School with his alleged victim. Tarnopolski also lives eight trailers down from her in their New Boston trailer park. A vehicle was parked in the driveway of the Tarnopolski trailer Tuesday afternoon although no one answered the door.
Tarnopolski tweeted several times, apparently about the case. On Sept. 28, he tweeted, "All girls are, are liars and backstabbers! I hate you all. Way to ruin my life. Seriously, now this will be on my record for life!"
Four days later, on Oct. 1, he tweeted, "I'm facing a sentance (sic) of prison time. Up to 4 years seeing as how I am 18 years of age now ..."
Then, on Oct. 3, Tarnopolski wrote, "You say I (expletive) your life up, but your the one who lies to everyone because your scared to get in trouble! You threw this upon me! Your idea."
Miller said her office did not know the girl was being teased by classmates until after a Fox 2 (WJBK) news broadcast identifying the girl's mother.
"Although the child's face was not seen, when the mother was interviewed, essentially the child's identity was revealed," Miller said. "After the broadcast, it is our understanding that the child was harassed at school. We had no reports of harassment prior to the airing of the piece."
Alicia Skillman, executive director Equality Michigan, a Detroit-based organization which has tried to get anti-bullying legislation passed in Michigan, said taunting takes a toll on kids — and, she said, it often results in suicide.
"This affects everyone; that's something some people don't seem to get," Skillman said. "You can be an average, middle-of-the road youth, and you can be bullied about something. All it takes is for someone to have a certain perspective of you — someone can think you're poor, or too elite, or gay — and you can get bullied for that. This is what happens, and children are killing themselves; they don't realize that they can survive what's happening to them."
According to a report last year by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, only 26 percent of parents would give their child's high school an "A" for preventing bullying and school violence.
An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day in the United States because they fear being attacked or intimidated by other students, according to the National Education Association.
detnews.com/article/20101109/METRO/11090431/Alleged-teen-rape-victim-commits-suicide--prosecutors-to-dismiss-charges
A preliminary examination was scheduled for Wednesday in the case involving Huron High School students Joseph Tarnopolski and his alleged victim, Samantha Kelly.
But because the girl committed suicide Monday night, the charges will be dismissed, said Maria Miller, spokeswoman for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
"Without the victim, we're unable to go forward with the case," Miller said.
Kelly's mother last month reported to police that Tarnopolski had sex with her daughter. Tarnopolski was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and was released on bond.
After his release, Tarnopolski returned to Huron High School with his alleged victim. Tarnopolski also lives eight trailers down from her in their New Boston trailer park. A vehicle was parked in the driveway of the Tarnopolski trailer Tuesday afternoon although no one answered the door.
Tarnopolski tweeted several times, apparently about the case. On Sept. 28, he tweeted, "All girls are, are liars and backstabbers! I hate you all. Way to ruin my life. Seriously, now this will be on my record for life!"
Four days later, on Oct. 1, he tweeted, "I'm facing a sentance (sic) of prison time. Up to 4 years seeing as how I am 18 years of age now ..."
Then, on Oct. 3, Tarnopolski wrote, "You say I (expletive) your life up, but your the one who lies to everyone because your scared to get in trouble! You threw this upon me! Your idea."
Miller said her office did not know the girl was being teased by classmates until after a Fox 2 (WJBK) news broadcast identifying the girl's mother.
"Although the child's face was not seen, when the mother was interviewed, essentially the child's identity was revealed," Miller said. "After the broadcast, it is our understanding that the child was harassed at school. We had no reports of harassment prior to the airing of the piece."
Alicia Skillman, executive director Equality Michigan, a Detroit-based organization which has tried to get anti-bullying legislation passed in Michigan, said taunting takes a toll on kids — and, she said, it often results in suicide.
"This affects everyone; that's something some people don't seem to get," Skillman said. "You can be an average, middle-of-the road youth, and you can be bullied about something. All it takes is for someone to have a certain perspective of you — someone can think you're poor, or too elite, or gay — and you can get bullied for that. This is what happens, and children are killing themselves; they don't realize that they can survive what's happening to them."
According to a report last year by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, only 26 percent of parents would give their child's high school an "A" for preventing bullying and school violence.
An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day in the United States because they fear being attacked or intimidated by other students, according to the National Education Association.
detnews.com/article/20101109/METRO/11090431/Alleged-teen-rape-victim-commits-suicide--prosecutors-to-dismiss-charges