2007 De Anza rape investigation
Encyclopedia
The 2007 De Anza rape investigation was a police inquiry into allegations of sexual assault of a minor
arising from an off-campus party on March 4, 2007. The investigation focused on eight members of the 2007 De Anza College
baseball team. The allegations were investigated by the Santa Clara County, California
Sheriff's Department, and reviewed by Santa Clara County District Attorney
Dolores Carr. June 4, 2007, Carr stated that no charges would be filed. This decision was questioned by many, and the Office of the California Attorney General
Jerry Brown
was invited by the prosecutor to perform an independent investigation of the available evidence. May 2, 2008, the Attorney General's office determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone present with a crime.
, the Attorney General of the State of California, to conduct an independent assessment of the evidence. Brown accepted, and his office commenced an investigation. May 2, 2008, in a letter from the Attorney General's Office to Carr, the results of the investigation were released. The investigation determined that while there was evidence that a crime had occurred, there was insufficient evidence to identify whom had been responsible. The investigation noted that the physical descriptions of the attackers varied so widely that they could not be accurately identified. The victim was characterized as having no memory of the incident after her arrival at the party. The report concluded that these factors made proof beyond a reasonable doubt
, as required for a criminal trial, impossible The report further indicated that widespread intoxication among the party's attendees hampered the accuracy and reliable of their memories of the event. As a result, Carr's office announced that no charges would be filed, and the criminal case was closed.
This case went to civil court in 2011 with the victim seeking monetary compensation from 10 men. Knopf and Chadwick claimed that the sex was consensual. Another six men were also listed in the lawsuit when the trial began in late February, but they have all settled with the plaintiff or had the lawsuit dismissed.
On April 7, 2011, the jury in the civil case found Knopf and Chadwick to be not liable for the charges against them.
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
arising from an off-campus party on March 4, 2007. The investigation focused on eight members of the 2007 De Anza College
De Anza College
De Anza College is a community college located in Cupertino, California. It was founded in 1967 on the site of the Beaulieu Winery and is named after the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza...
baseball team. The allegations were investigated by the Santa Clara County, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Sheriff's Department, and reviewed by Santa Clara County District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
Dolores Carr. June 4, 2007, Carr stated that no charges would be filed. This decision was questioned by many, and the Office of the California Attorney General
California Attorney General
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.The...
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
was invited by the prosecutor to perform an independent investigation of the available evidence. May 2, 2008, the Attorney General's office determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone present with a crime.
Allegations of assault
March 4, 2007, three members of the De Anza College woman's soccer team alleged that, while attending a party off-campus at the home of a member of the college baseball team, they witnessed an intoxicated 17-year-old girl being sexually assaulted by two or more people. They further stated that a number of other people were in the same room, observing the incident and cheering. The women stated that they intervened, removed the girl, and took her to the hospital.Investigation
The members of the soccer team reported the matter, and the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department investigated. The results of the investigation were turned over to the Office of the Santa Clara County District Attorney. The district attorney's office conducted additional investigation, and presented its evidence to a grand jury. On June 4, 2007, District Attorney Dolores Carr announced that she would not charge anyone involved in the alleged incident with a crime.Public reaction and aftermath
The decision not to prosecute was questioned widely. There was negative reaction in the form of public protests, and adverse comments by the county sheriff, by a number of newspaper columnists, and editorial page writers. June 5, 2007 Carr invited Jerry BrownJerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
, the Attorney General of the State of California, to conduct an independent assessment of the evidence. Brown accepted, and his office commenced an investigation. May 2, 2008, in a letter from the Attorney General's Office to Carr, the results of the investigation were released. The investigation determined that while there was evidence that a crime had occurred, there was insufficient evidence to identify whom had been responsible. The investigation noted that the physical descriptions of the attackers varied so widely that they could not be accurately identified. The victim was characterized as having no memory of the incident after her arrival at the party. The report concluded that these factors made proof beyond a reasonable doubt
Reasonable doubt
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction in most adversarial legal systems . Generally the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their version of events to this standard...
, as required for a criminal trial, impossible The report further indicated that widespread intoxication among the party's attendees hampered the accuracy and reliable of their memories of the event. As a result, Carr's office announced that no charges would be filed, and the criminal case was closed.
This case went to civil court in 2011 with the victim seeking monetary compensation from 10 men. Knopf and Chadwick claimed that the sex was consensual. Another six men were also listed in the lawsuit when the trial began in late February, but they have all settled with the plaintiff or had the lawsuit dismissed.
On April 7, 2011, the jury in the civil case found Knopf and Chadwick to be not liable for the charges against them.