Three boys from Mingus Union High School were arrested by Tuesday, Feb. 3, by Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies on charges of kidnapping and sexual assualt of a fellow student.
According to YCSO public information office Dwight D’Evelyn, deputies were dispatched to the reported sexual assault of a female student who attends Mingus Union High School in Cottonwood.
Deputies met the 15-year-old victim at the school and she reportedly recounted circumstances of an alleged sexual assault occurring Saturday, Jan. 31, involving three male students from the school.
The incident allegedly took place in an area outside of Cottonwood, according to YCSO.
D’Evelyn said the victim she told deputies that earlier on Saturday evening one of the suspects contacted her by phone and asked if she would like to hang out with some friends.
She reportedly agreed and was allegedly picked up at her home a short time later by three fellow students. They allegedly drove to a remote area where she was told an outdoor social gathering was underway, according to YCSO, but no such activity was occurring.
The vehicle finally stopped and a short time later the victim was allegedly sexually assaulted by the suspects, according to YCSO. They allegedly drove her home eventually around midnight and dropped her off.
Deputies contacted detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the following day, Tuesday, Feb. 3, all three suspects were arrested, according to YCSO.
Two of the suspects, both 16 years old, were arrested at Mingus Union High School, according to YCSO. The third suspect, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested at his Cottonwood home.
All suspects were booked at the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention Center in Prescott on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault. One of the suspects was additionally charged with criminal liability. YCSO has not released the names of the suspects.
