2 Concord Catholic Schools Address Alleged Rape Of Student

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Two teenage boys were arrested Wednesday night in connection with the sexual assault of an underage girl that allegedly occurred in late September in unincorporated Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County sheriff's deputies said today. A letter that Carondelet High School, an all-girls Catholic school located at 1133 Winton Drive in Concord, sent out to families today confirmed that the victim was a Carondelet student.

It also stated that the alleged assault occurred off-campus, and one of the two suspects arrested is a student at the neighboring all-boys Catholic school De La Salle High.

Officials at De La Salle acknowledged media reports that a student had been arrested in the case in a letter sent out to parents around 1 p.m. today, but said they have not yet been contacted by law enforcement and have "very little" information about the investigation.

"Although we cannot comment on the incident, let us make ourselves clear: at De La Salle High School, we expect and demand respect for all persons," the letter said.

Both schools are taking measures to address the investigation, and are calling town hall meetings for staff and faculty as well as gathering their students for discussions on behavior and consequences.

"We take the safety and well-being of our young women extremely seriously," Carondelet principal Kevin Cushing said in a statement. "We have had ongoing conversations with our students and implemented programs in partnership with De La Salle to educate all of our students around the global issues of sexual assault and creating an environment of mutual respect, and we will continue to do so."

Investigators are asking anyone with additional information on the case to contact the sheriff's sexual assault unit at 925-313-2625. Anonymous tips can be reported at 866-846-3592 or can be sent by email to
tips@so.cccounty.us.

By Bay City News Service

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