Chicago Teen Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault of 12-Year-Old Girl
Scandale Fritz, 17, pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago last week and Cook County Judge Timothy Joyce sentenced Fritz to 13 years on each count for a total of 26 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Fritz is one of four Chicago teens charged with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl that was videotaped and posted on Facebook.
Fritz was charged in the assault along with Justin Applewhite, 17, Kenneth Brown, 16, and Dyquier Garrett, 17. The four were all charged as adults with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault for sexually assaulting the young girl, videotaping some portions of the attacks and later posting the video on Facebook. At the time of the incident, which occurred in 2012, Fritz and Brown were 15 years old Applewhite and Garrett were 16 years old.
According to prosecutors, on Dec. 15, 2012, the 12-year-old went to Fritz’s home because she knew him through her older brother. Defendants Applewhite and Brown were also at Fritz’ house when the victim arrived at which time Fritz removed the victim’s pants and sexually assaulted her. After the first assault committed by Fritz, Brown then allegedly sexually assaulted the girl.
Applewhite is then alleged to have forced the victim to perform a sex act on him, while Fritz videotaped the assault. The video of Applewhite sexually assaulting the victim was later posted on Facebook and Brown can be seen in the background of the video waving a gun.
According to prosecutors, Garrett is alleged to have sexually assaulted the victim a short time later when he arrived at the home. The cases for the remaining defendants Applewhite, Brown and Garrett are currently pending.
State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Ciaccia of the Sex Crimes Division and the Chicago Police Department for their work on this case.
According to statistics compiled by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assaults, in 2011, 4,397 sexual assaults were reported in Illinois, however, it is estimated that only one in three sexual assaults are reported which means over 13,000 sexual assaults may have occurred that year.
Recently, the White House has released its latest call to action against rapes and sexual assaults. To learn more visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sexual_assault_report_1-21-14.pdf.
To find counseling and advocacy groups for sexual assault victims, go to http://www.icasa.org/crisisCenters.aspx?PageID=501.
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