May 21--Los Angeles County prosecutors have declined to file sex crimes charges against 15 Venice High School students arrested this year, including some students who were led from school in handcuffs.
The case drew significant attention after Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested several of the teenagers at the high school. Investigators claimed the students -- all between the ages of 14 and 17 -- were involved in a series of sex crimes involving two female classmates that began more than a year ago.
But on Wednesday, a spokesman for the district attorney's office told The Times that prosecutors deemed there was "insufficient evidence to file charges." Spokesman Greg Risling did not elaborate, citing privacy rules governing juvenile cases.
After announcing the arrests, LAPD officials offered few details about the case, citing the sensitive nature of sex crimes investigations, the juvenile status of the accused and a desire to protect the alleged victims, who also were students at the school.
Police alleged that beginning in 2013, a group of male teenagers worked together to pressure two female classmates into numerous sex acts. Some of the incidents were coerced and others were consensual, police said.
The Los Angeles Unified School District issued a statement Wednesday evening saying it had completed an "administrative review" of the allegations. The district declined to say what actions, if any, were taken against the students, citing confidentiality rules.
An LAPD spokesman declined to comment on the department's investigation.
UPDATE
6:24 p.m.: This post was updated to include responses from the Los Angeles Unified School District and an LAPD spokesman.
This post was originally published at 4:19 p.m.
