Two Connecticut High School Football Players Accused Of Sexually Assaulting A 13-Year-Old Girl

Two Connecticut high school football players have been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The cases have prompted several students to harass the victim online.

The two accused players, Edgar Gonzalez (pictured above) and Joan Toribio (pictured below), attend Torrington High School. Both are 18 years old. The Associated Press reports that both were charged in felony second-degree sexual assault and other crimes last month in cases involving different 13-year-old girls. Toribio was also charged in a separate second-degree sexual assault case two weeks ago. Both football players have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Register Citizen, a local paper that covers Northwest Connecticut, reports that one victim has been the target of bullying on social media in recent weeks, with dozens of athletes and students harassing the girl. One student questioned why a 13-year-old girl was hanging around 18-year-old guys.

“If it takes two then why is only one in trouble? Ha,” another student posted.

Both posts were favorited several times and received multiple retweets.

A more vicious tweet asked “I wanna know why there’s no punishment for young hoes.” The account that launched this tweet has since been deleted.

A state judge sealed details about the allegations from public view. Toribio has posted $100,000 bail for two separate sexual assault cases. Gonzalez, on the other hand, is being held at the New Haven Correction Center with $65,000 bail.

Gonzalez was previously charged with alleged felony robbery in March 2012 after jumping three 14-year-olds in search of money with the help of three other teens. He continued to play on the football teach despite the charges. However, the coach will not allow the player to play following the current sexual assault case.

This incident follows another high profile sexual assault case involving football players. In Steubenville, Ohio, high school football team members Tray Mays and Ma’Lik Richmond were sentenced to at least a year in juvenile jail Sunday after being found guilty of using their hands to rape a drunken 16-year-old girl. This prior sexual assault case involving high school football players, too, prompted victim bashing via social media.