UPDATE 11:28 AM: The Superintendent of Montgomery County Schools has released a statement:
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Rockville High School community, particularly the female student who has been at the center of this. I know that the staff and students remain focused on healing as a community and ending this school year “Rockville Strong.”
“While MCPS has no role in investigations, we always fully cooperate with the Montgomery County Police Department and the State’s Attorney’s office. We appreciate our colleagues for their extensive and thoughtful investigation into a matter that has significantly and adversely impacted our entire community.”
“Our work continues as we review safety procedures and protocols in all of our schools. As I have shared previously, MCPS is engaged in a systematic security review of our schools that will continue to help us fulfill our commitment to providing a safe learning environment to all students. The on-site assessment portions of the review have been conducted at six high schools, including Rockville High School. We anticipate completing the remainder of our high schools this month. Once we complete the high school phase of the process, we will begin our review of middle and elementary schools. Upon completion, we will provide a summary of our review and share next steps with our school communities.”
“The safety and security of every student in each school is our first priority and a responsibility that we take very seriously. We have and will continue to work every day to ensure our schools are safe places to learn. Learning is our core mission and central purpose.”
“I want to thank our community for supporting our students and schools during this very difficult time.”
EARLIER REPORTING:
Wyn Delano
WMAL.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY — (WMAL) Two immigrant teens who were charged in the rape of a 14 year old at a Rockville High School have have their sex offense charges dropped.
The case had garnered international attention as the two suspects, Henry Sanchez Milian (18) and Jose Montano (17), were immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador respectively. They had entered the country illegally and enrolled in a public school in Rockville.
Andrew Jezic, the attorney for Sanchez-Milian received a call from prosecutors telling him that charges would be dropped against his client on Thursday night. They also said, during the same call, that they would be still be pursuing a child pornography charge against Sanchez Milan and possibly against Montano as well.
In court Friday, Prosecutors told Montano and his lawyer that they would be dropping the sexual assault case against him.
Montano will be released from custody Friday morning, while Sanchez-Milian will remain in custody until he has a formal hearing sometime next week.
Prosecutors say that they will continue to pursue a child pornography possession charge against Montano, but Maria Mena – Montano’s attorney – argued in court that prosecutors should pursue the same charges against the 14-year-old who Montano sent explicit images to. Sanchez-Milian also will be charged with possession.
However, Montano will also be charged with a more serious count of distribution of child pornography for sharing explicit images of the 14-year-old with other students at the school.
She also said that charging Montano with distribution of child porn sends message to high school students that they can be charged too.
The new developments are unexpected, to say the least.
Andrew Jezic, defense attorney for Sanchez Milian, cited several text messages in which the 14-year-old girl and Montano sent explicit text messages and images about planning to have sex in the school. “At no point did the girl express any reluctance with any sex acts.” he said. “From the night before, she actively planned a sexual encounter.”
It is unclear as to whether the child pornography charges relate to these images.
This seems to be a radical departure from the original picture painted of the situation, where the 14-year old told police that Montano had asked to have sex with her and when she refused, pushed her into a bathroom and raped her.
Sanchez-Milian was added to the case after he admitted to police he had sex with the 14-year old alongside Montano.
This case had become a rallying cry for several political factions who cited it as an example of the dangers of illegal immigration.
The Montgomery County District Court held the hearing at 10AM on Friday listed only as “Felony Dismissal Hearing.”
We will continue to update this story as new information becomes available.
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