7th suspect charged in homecoming gang rape outside Northern California high school

7th suspect in Calif. homecoming gang rape charged

RICHMOND, Calif. — A seventh suspect has been charged in the alleged gang rape of a girl outside a Northern California high school homecoming dance.

Contra Costa County prosecutors on Thursday charged 43-year-old John Crane Jr. of Richmond with forcible rape in concert and a special allegation of personally participating in the crime. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Crane and the attorney who helped him surrender both declined to comment.

Crane is one of seven people whom authorities say sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl outside Richmond High School in October.

Six other males ages 15 to 21 have pleaded not guilty in the attack. They appeared in court Thursday to schedule a preliminary hearing, but that decision was postponed as prosecutors awaited forensic results.

The next hearing is set for Feb. 25.

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Information from: Contra Costa Times and San Francisco Chronicle