Response to the Several Rape Cases Discussed in Section

Although each of the four instances, characterized as the Richmond High School, the Haidl, Kobe Bryant, and Roman Polanski Rapes, were each unique in their own ways, they all involved forcing female victims to engage in sexual intercourse without their consent and against their will. However, in regards to the Kobe Bryant and Roman Polanski Rapes, which were highly politicized incidents that involved celebrities, I find that the male perpetrators (Bryant and Polanski) have been relatively pardoned because of their status within the community. For Bryant, a settlement was reached and the sexual assault charge was dismissed. If they were any other individuals, those without such fame and legal support, the outcome would have concluded differently in my opinion.

On the other hand, I believe that the (Gregory) Haidl and Richmond High School Gang-Rapes were treated much differently. On July 5, 2002, in Orange County, California, the Haidl Gang-Rape occurred in which three 17-year-old males, Gregory Haidl, Kyle Nachreiner, and Keith Spann, videotaped themselves engaging in sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old girl who is referred to as “Jane Doe.” Oddly enough, the rape took place in Haidl’s parents’ home, specifically, in the garage meanwhile his parents were in another part of the home. They even granted the boys permission to consume alcohol, as they allegedly believed it was safer if they were to drink in the home. Haidl’s father, Don, was an assistant sheriff in the Orange County Police Department and when the rape came to light, it was rather shocking and controversial within the wealthy community. Jane Doe was accused of having consensual sex with all three of the 17-year old male perpetrators the very night before. Another factor was that her blood alcohol level was between 2.6 and 3.0 and she was possibly dosed with a date-rape drug, GHB. Aside from her impaired judgment, the primary focus was the videotaping of her rape by Gregory Haidl. Eventually and surprisingly, the boys were not actually accused of rape but solely sexual penetration. After serving about half of a six-year sentence, Gregory Haidl, commonly known as the main perpetrator, was released from prison in 2008, only about a year ago. Similar to the Haidl Rape, a gang-rape took place in which as many as five males raped, as well as beat, a fellow female student following their high-school homecoming. Likewise, she was intoxicated, however, unlike the Haidl case, there were witnesses, potentially twenty witnesses who videotaped the incident yet refused to disclose significant information to police. Because the case is pending, she shall have to see if the outcome will prove harsher in comparison to the Haidl case in which the main perpetrator had relatively high regard because of his family’s position in Orange County.