Rape charges against Torrington athletes

TORRINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- There are sexual assault allegations against two high school football players and now a third student amid reports that classmates are now bullying the alleged victim online.

It sounds like a recent case in Steubinville, Ohio but this time, it's happening in Torrington.

As you can imagine, news and rumors about two Torrington High School football players arrested for sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl tends to spread quickly, as freshman Gloria Portillo shared with News 8, who had permission to speak from her parents.

"I've heard both. I've heard the girl has made up stories, but then again that it did happen and it was just all planned," said Portillo.

18-year-old Edgar Gonzalez and Joan Toribio were arrested last month. The latest twist is police announced Wednesday there is another 13-year-old female victim, and a recent arrest of an unidentified 17-year-old student for sexual assault.

"They did know the boys that were involved, the young men," said Lt. Mike Emmanuel, Torrington Police Dept.

The Torrington Register Citizen is reporting one victim has been cyber-bullied since coming forward.

"We're not going to take comments at this time, that means any," said Kenneth Traub, Torrington Board of Education.

School officials also refused to answer questions, only reading a prepared statement.

"We want to assure our school community that we are very concerned about the safety and wellness of all of our students and that all possible steps are being taken to keep our students safe in school," said Traub.

Meanwhile, some Torrington High students say they don't want to their school to be labeled because of an incident that took place away from campus.

"I think we need to stop focusing on the people at the school and start focusing on those people because all the people here are being lumped into this group and everyone thinks that we're all rapists, and that we're all whores so I'm not cool with that, and that's all I want to say," said James.

News 8 visited the homes of both 18-year-olds arrested but no one answered the door.

News 8 spoke to a neighbor of one of the boys who didn't want to speak on camera because he knows both families. They go to church regularly and come from good homes but he also said the kids in the neighborhood get a little crazy sometimes.

Police say the alleged sexual assault are serious crimes, stopping short of calling it rape.

"Statutorily, it is not consensual," said Lt. Emmanuel.

News 8 is told the three students are suspended.

Toribio is scheduled to be in court April 23. Gonzalez is scheduled to be back in court on April 2.

Gonzalez was arrested in May of 2012 on charges of robbery, assault and risk of injury. He has pleaded not guilty in that case. The Register Citizen reports he was allowed to play football last season even though the coach knew of the felony robbery arrest.