Sexual Assault

A bill before Parliament in Uganda would prohibit women from wearing miniskirts in public. The government's ethics minister, Simon Lokodo, has taken the lead in defending it. "Anything above the knee is outlawed," he said. "If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her. " If the bill were to become law, Uganda would hardly be the first country to institute harsh restrictions on women's dress in public. Saudi Arabia, for instance, famously expects women to be shrouded head to toe in public.

The Saratoga High School sophomore who committed suicide after allegedly being sexually assaulted lived her last days "tormented," her family's attorney said Friday. Authorities this week alleged that Audrie Pott, 15, was sexually assaulted by three teenage boys last fall, one of whom snapped a picture of the alleged attack. The photo quickly circulated among Pott's classmates. The teen wrote on her Facebook page that it was the “worst day ever,” according to her family's attorney, Robert Allard.

Students shared photos of a girl being sexually assaulted in the days before the girl committed suicide, a lawyer representing the family said. Robert Allard, an attorney representing the family of 15-year-old Audrie Pott, told the San Jose Mercury News that Audrie posted on her Facebook page that her life was "ruined" and that she was enduring the "worst day ever" shortly before she hanged herself last fall in Saratoga in Northern California....

A 15-year-old Saratoga girl who killed herself after photos circulated of her alleged sexual assault was "tormented" and "tortured" in the days before her death, her family's attorney said Friday. On Thursday, authorities announced three 16-year-old boys had been arrested on suspicion of sexually battering Audrie Pott, a Saratoga Union High School sophomore, according to reports. An attorney representing Pott's family told The Times the alleged attack occurred at what the teenager thought would be a "small little gathering" at a friend's house last fall.

A woman was mauled and killed by a pit bull Thursday night in Stockton. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office got a call about the dog attacking the woman around 8 p.m. on North Lillian Avenue near East Fremont Street. They found the woman unresponsive in the driveway and said she had wounds on her body consistent with that of a dog attack. San Joaquin County investigators are still trying to determine who the victim is and whether she lived at the residence where they found her. Sgt. Tom Rees  told the Record in Stockton that there was "a lot of blood.

Allegations that three teenage boys sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl who later committed suicide have shaken the Santa Clara County community of Saratoga. The boys, all 16, were taken into custody Thursday at two different high schools and booked into juvenile hall in connection with the attack on Audrie Pott, who hanged herself, according to media reports. Officials with the Los Gatos-Saratoga school district released a statement to the San Jose Mercury News saying the they are fully cooperating with authorities and that their "sympathies go out to all of the families.

The family of a Bay Area 15-year-old who killed herself after photos circulated of her alleged sexual assault hope to bring about tougher legislation on cyberbullying, their attorney said Friday. "Audrie's Law" would also seek to strengthen laws on sexual assault to ensure adolescent suspects are tried as adults, attorney Robert Allard told The Times. "Her parents really want something positive to come from something like this," Allard said. On Thursday, authorities announced that three 16-year-old boys had been arrested on suspicion of sexually battering Audrie Pott, a Saratoga Union High School sophomore, according to reports.

Audrie Pott loved art, horses and skiing, and was known to sing as she made her way down the mountain. The 15-year-old played viola and piano. As a soccer player, her family said, she “had a nose for the goal.” The Saratoga High School sophomore's world changed one September night on what was supposed to be a “small little gathering” with friends. Authorities this week alleged that Pott was sexually assaulted by three teenage boys, one of whom snapped a picture of the alleged attack.

Steve Alford, hired as UCLA's basketball coach nearly two weeks ago, issued an apology Thursday for past comments about Pierre Pierce, a player for Alford at Iowa who was accused of sexual assault in 2002. Alford on a handful of occasions vehemently defended his player, saying he was innocent. Pierce pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. In 2005, Pierce was thrown off the Iowa team after another incident involving a woman. He pleaded guilty to two charges of first-degree burglary, assault with intent to commit sexual assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Authorities have obtained video footage of the primary suspect in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a Northridge girl crossing into Mexico, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said Friday. The video shows Tobias Dustin Summers, 32, crossing over a footbridge into Tecate, Mexico, a few days ago, Beck said. It was unclear if he crossed back, the chief said. Summers was charged in his absence Wednesday with 36 counts of sexual assault, as well as kidnapping and first-degree burglary, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said.