[Leaters]

World
Apr 4, 2010

5 charged in gang rape of girl, 7

TRENTON (New Jersey) - TWO adults and three juveniles have been charged with gang-raping a 7-year-old girl who was sold by her 15-year-old stepsister during a party at a crime-ridden apartment building, police said on Saturday. Details on the arrests were announced at a Saturday night news conference at police headquarters in Trenton, the state's capital city. The arrested people include a 20-year-old man who already had been charged on Friday with having sex with the 15-year-old. The other four are a 19-year-old Trenton man and boys ages 13, 14 and 17. Each was charged with aggravated sexual assault and child endangerment.

Police said further arrests may be made in the case, which shocked residents of the gritty Rowan Towers apartment building. Authorities say the 7-year-old girl was offered for sale by her stepsister on March 28. They say the stepsister went to a party with some men at Rowan Towers and the younger girl tagged along because she worried about her stepsister's safety. Police say the 15-year-old sold sex to men, then took money to let them touch the younger girl. They say touching turned to forcible sex as at least seven men raped the 7-year-old. -- AP