Accused East High School Rapists Make First Court Appearance

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Two of the three East High rape suspects were in court Friday morning. More than two dozen students showed up outside of the courtroom in support of their classmates, accused of raping another student.

The students weren't allowed inside the courtroom as the judge read the teens their charges. But outside, students huddled around one boy's attorney for an update on their friend, before leaving disappointed because they weren't allowed to see either of their classmates. On their way out, they maintain, both boys are innocent.

A mother can't hold back tears at the thought of her son's trouble.

Judge Karen Massey told the defendant, "Mr. Bland. You're charged with an a felony aggravated rape."

18 year old Brian Bland could face 15 to 60 years if convicted without parole. His dad is distraught by the charges and possible jail time, saying it's not in his son's character to commit the crime of rape.

Off camera, Bland's parents tell us their son is a good kid who went to East High School and worked at Taco Bell to save money for college.

Classmates crowd the courtroom to show their support.

"They're all in support of these kids and they feel very, very strongly that their friends are innocent in this matter," Ballin said. Defense Attorney Marvin Ballin represents 18 year old Demarious Moore. "His mother is very, very distraught, and I just told her to hang in there, we're trying to get something done as quickly as we can."

In an affidavit, a 17 year old female tells police she left school voluntarily with Moore, Bland, and another juvenile boy. The trio came to this abandoned house just a few blocks away where she says she had consensual intercourse with Moore. Then, Moore is accused of striking the girl's face before she asked him to stop. The victim told police Moore refused and continued to have sex with her. She also says the other two men, Bland and the 16 year old, forced her to perform other sexual acts.

Ballin said, "In a rape case, there's always a question of consent."

Helen Arnett lives across the street from where the attack happened.

"Nothing surprises me that happens over there, nope, nothing surprises me."

Arnett has lived on Red Oak since 1985. She said abandoned houses are popping up all over her neighborhood.

"They smoke dope in them, they gamble in them, they have sex in them, they do whatever they want in it," says Arnett. She hopes this unfortunate incident will prompt city leaders to be more aggressive about these properties. "They need to be torn down because it's dangerous."

Both men are due back in court later this month for their preliminary hearings. Moore is back in court on March 30. Bland's parents are trying to hire an attorney for their son. He's back on March 19. The juvenile suspect will face a judge on March 26.