Running out of options

[nomeansno]

What is the name of your state? Colorado

I am in a sticky predicament and just need a bit of direction. I live in a small town that is located two hours from the nearest stoplight, movie theatre, or fast food restaurant. With a population of less than 1000, things work differently here. I am currently involved in a rape case, only there is no case.

4 years ago I was involved in a date rape situation, he was pulled off of me just before penetration by several people. I did not report the incident until last summer. At that time I was informed that there was another victim, and after I confirmed her story I reported mine to the police. She reported hers as well but withdrew her report less than 48 hours later after she received several threats from the rapist and his accomplice. The police said they could not prosecute my case because it was too old, and since he didn_t actually rape me no assault occurred. Even though we had fought long enough for him to hold me down, get my pants down, and was forcing his way in, people could hear me screaming over the music and he still had to be pulled off of me there was no actual assault. So_ if I hadn_t fought him off there might be a case, but since I did no dice. The best I could hope for was that another girl would come forward and I could testify on her behalf.

The police have told us there is nothing they can do to protect us, and we need restraining orders but the local judge refused to give me one. Our judge is a former school teacher with no prior legal experience, she is in her office one day a week if she has enough cases. The clerk said there had to be an act of violence to get a restraining order, when I asked her to define rape in a non violent way she laughed. I filled out the papers and the judge denied it over the phone. I told the cops this and they said that they felt I really did need one and suggested I go to our county court house instead. I did but our local judge still had to approve it, and she denied it a third time saying I needed to speak with her. So for the fourth week in a row I asked for one and was denied. This time because she felt that I was in no danger, if he was going to hurt me he would have done it before then. I explained to her that just after I filed my report he started following me.

I told her that the other girl was being threatened, and recently had learned of another girl he reportedly raped, and she too had been threatened. The police felt we all needed restraining orders and she said that wasn_t what the police were telling her. So someone was lying to me. She told me that if I had really reported a rape then I would have been automatically protected by a RO and it was out of her hands. I told her I had filed, but they couldn_t prosecute it and she said she couldn_t help me either.

He continued following me, and trying to approach me but I just made sure I wasn_t caught alone, EVER. When things got dangerous I broke my silence. For over three years I had told no one, not even immediate family. Now I felt like telling people might be the only way to protect myself, I wanted the names of other girls, I wanted to keep someone else from getting hurt. It just made him mad.

So, I_ve spent the last seven months either hiding out in my house or being chaperoned. On the few occasions when he did follow me I sought help from the nearest safe place. We have collected the names of half a dozen girls who claim they were raped by him, however there are only two reports on file. A third girl reported over a month ago, but her report got lost somewhere on the way to the investigators office.

All the girls claim he follows them, several have been threatened and refuse to report. One girl left town after he raped a friend of hers, he told her to shut her mouth or she would be next. After he stalked her aggressively and even tried to run her off the road she packed up and moved. All total there are over a dozen girls who have been victims of assault, threats and intimidation from this man and his friends.

The latest incident was less than a month ago, he and an accomplice that is also mentioned in one of the girls rapes went to a girls home, drugged her and threatened her at gun point. She was taken to the hospital but they did not do a rape kit or a blood test for date rape drugs. The next day she found bruises that were in line with a rape, but she doesn_t remember it.

The police took the two men into custody after a standoff where shots were fired. A search of the rapists vehicle turned up drugs and paraphernalia his friend was charged with the attack but the supervising officer refused to let the other officers arrest the rapist. Someone at the scene overheard the cops saying that they_d like to see him narc his way out of this one_ he is one of our bigger dealers and users of meth. However it seems the police refuse to arrest him even when he is caught red handed. So I don_t know if he really is a Narc, but he sure seems to get away with a lot for a small town and a police force of less than 10 people.

So we have a dozen girls living in fear for their lives, and a police force that refuses to protect us, though they seem to protect him pretty well. The police have lied to us over and over not realizing that it_s a small town, people talk, people know things_

Now my question: Since we have turned everywhere else someone mentioned filing a civil suit against him, class action style. Maybe if the other girls thought they could get some money out of it they might come forward. The money really isn_t the issue though_ it_s the hope of media attention.

I have contacted the media and they will not do a story on him until he is actually charged with something. They can_t do a story without some sort of proof. However the media may be our only weapon, first of all just to get his name out there so he can_t hurt any more girls, and maybe the girls he has hurt will feel stronger knowing they aren_t alone. Second of all it might put the police on the spot_ maybe they_ll have to do something if more people are aware of it.

So what is the likelihood of a case like this? Is it even possible?

Also can anyone else give us any options? This is getting dangerous and someone is bound to get hurt.

 

[loveumms]

Wow - if all this is true then I really feel for you. I can't imagine how hard it must be to walk around in fear. I have to say though that if the police are "covering" up this mans deeds then you are going to have a hard time making any charge stick.

I am very doubtful that the police found a large amount of drugs in this mans possession and didn't charge him with something. I am not saying the police are saints however, I find it very hard to believe that 'someone' overheard the conversation of the arresting officers alluding to him being a narc and getting out of "this one". Why didn't the media do coverage of this story? If the town is as small as you say it is, this would be prime time news coverage. If you really feel that the local police are corrupt then maybe you should try and contact the state police who are more likely to have checks and balances ensuring less dishonesty.

Of course the media is not going to feature a story on a "rapist" if there have not been any charges of rape. They could get sued themselves for slander unless they state the story is based on accusations.

I have a feeling that you might be leaving a few things out b/c how could this guy continue to rape/assault/threaten all these woman without having ANY evidence (semen, witnesses, ect). Not only that, if he is stalking you then you should have no problem catching him one way or another. Do any of the people you go out with for protection see him? Can you take pictures of him following you so you have proof that you need a RO? Do you have any messages he has left you on tape proving he is indeed stalking you? Does your cell/home phone have caller ID that allows you to prove he is calling you? That would be the best place to start gathering evidence.

Honestly, if I was in your situation and knew a dangerous man was stalking me I would move. I know it is drastic but, I value my life and the knowledge that someone who can evade the law has got their eye on me is enough for me to say its time for a change. Or, I would contact a higher authority with my concerns and see where it takes me. If you really feel that the local police are not protecting you and the state police are not receptive I would contact the FBI or DEA (if he truly is a big time drug dealer it might be interesting to them).

 

[nomeansno]

I'm a smart girl, and I realize this whole story sounds crazy. When people started telling me that the local cops were the ones actually bringing the drugs in I laughed at them. These are cops I know on a first name basis, they've known me my whole life. Having a young punk kid dealing drugs for them??? If someone else told me this story I would ask them if they wear tin foil hats or frequented X-files conventions. Everything I have told you is true as far as I know. I realize some of the girls might not be telling the truth... I know I am... and what can I truly know beyond that? Living in a bad episode of the Twilight zone isn't what I had in mind either...

I can't answer a lot of your questions online, no there isn't any evidence... he says all sax was with consent only. His word against ours, most were not reported until after any evidence was long gone. Mine was three and a half years old, and mine is the only report still standing, one withdrawn, one missing, and the rest too terrified to report. Like I told the investigator... if I was lying, why would I say he tried to rape me? Why not that he raped me? That would make more sense than waiting 3 1/2 years to say someone tried to rape me. My family raised me never to lie, then you don't have to remember to keep your stories straight.

The threats have all been delivered through third parties, in person, no witnesses. No phone calls, just sitting in front of our houses for hours... following us in public... those have all been witnessed, especially mine because I never go anywhere alone. He's smart, and yes, he is protected and we have a good idea of why... just no proof. Even the officers on the force that we believe we can trust told us that we can't trust anyone...

The point is we are in danger, all of us. I could leave but that would leave all the other girls here to face it. We can't all move. What kind of person would I be if I ran and left them alone with a can of worms I opened up? I reported this because I thought I was doing the right thing, he couldn't have hurt me... I was already damaged goods, and I not only survived, I got stronger. I fought him because he wasn't the first, I'm an adult now and I control my body now.

The other girls are young, he has intimidated them into not reporting, into just being afraid and there is no one else willing to help them feel safe... I can't leave them, but I can't figure out how to make us all safe either. This story needs to be told and soon... Once it's told they would be stupid to hurt us, but it has to be a big enough audience to count for something... to make us safe.

Thanks for the advice, and your skepticism is totally understood. Get real... It's a bad movie plot right? I do hope Wynonna Ryder plays my part, and I kind of hope she doesn't die in the end.

So how else do we ensure our protection???

There are so many people that know already that it would be stupid to try to hurt any of us... but how do we make sure that THEY know that??? I am seriously to the point of pasting flyers all over town blowing this thing wide open, bad idea or not, what's he going to do? Sue me??? lol...