Crime & Safety

WBHS Students Come to Defense of Sexual Assault Suspect

Several Whitefish Bay High School students wore T-shirts in support of the 15-year-old student accused of assaulting a girl in stairwell.

After learning of the sexual assault allegations made against a Whitefish Bay High School sophomore, dozens of students took to social media to defend the suspect and organize a T-shirt campaign in his defense.

One Whitefish Bay student estimates about 15 students wore white T-shirts to school saying to "free" the student. Those students were sent to the principal's office, and told to cover or remove their shirt. Other students simply wore headbands, which was the student's signature fashion accessory.

The students organized the T-shirt campaign on Twitter, which was buzzing about the incident on Wednesday and Thursday.

Find out what's happening in Whitefish Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"A lot of kids were talking about it," one student told Patch. "Basically, we felt like the school and police should have investigated it a little further, and we didn't think it should have been on the news like that."

Another student said the issue is mostly contentious with those that are close to the suspect or victim, and not the student body as a whole.

Find out what's happening in Whitefish Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This was an event that happened between two people – not every parent in the village, or every media source in Milwaukee," the student said. "Nobody had to know what happened besides the families involved and the administration at school. While I understand that it is a significant event, nobody actually knows what happened." 

The suspect, who is facing juvenile charges for second degree sexual assault, is accused of forcing a 16-year-old girl to perform oral sex on him in the school stairwell. The boy told police that the girl initiated the sexual contact. 

The allegations were first reported by Patch Wednesday morning, when Whitefish Bay police first released the full 18-page report.

Patch inquired about the report based on a Whitefish Bay School District email that was sent to parents Tuesday afternoon, alluding to "an incident between two students that occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. on April 18th in a stairwell at Whitefish Bay High School." 

When the press release was released, several parents contacted Patch for further clarification. Some parents were upset by the vague information, which came four days after the district learned about the incident.

"I'm not judging the school district, but it seemed to draw more questions than answers," said parent Lora Brewster.

Karla Walther was another parent frustrated by the lack of information. She said she would like to see the school district provide an annual security report listing the number and types of crimes on its campus, similar to what colleges are required to do under the Clery Act.

"This information would impact whether I thought the schools were safe for my kids and whether I would take action and urge others to take action to decrease the crime occurring in the schools," she said.


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