Date Rape: Officials Are Increasingly Concerned

Posted on July 16, 2008
Filed Under Felonies, Los Angeles, News, Sex Offenders, Tips |

Rape and date rape are tragedies for those involved.  For the victim, it could lead to years of withdrawal over the trauma, for the accused, it could send an innocent person to jail and their life into a tailspin.  Key figures in rape accusations and trials are professional and college athletes, in part because they are usually surrounded by women and a party atmosphere.

Take for example former Los Angeles Rams kicker Tony Zendejas.  Zendejas is charged with four felony counts of drugging and raping a female patron at a bar in San Dimas, CA.  He’s charged with one count each of rape by use of drugs, rape of an unconscious person, sodomy by anesthesia or controlled substance and sodomy of an unconscious victim. 

Former University of Florida basketball player Teddy Dupay was charged with a felony rape count for allegedly raping a woman with whom he’d had a two-year relationship.  Dupay is accused of beating the woman and then sexually assaulting her.

In both instances, these two are charged with “date rape” which means the accused has some form of relationship or potential romantic encounter with the accuser.  This differs from rape in that date rape refers to the non-consensual sexual activity between people who are known to each other either platonically or sexually. These particular instances of sexual assault take place during a social interaction between the rapist and the victim, hence the name date rape.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has highlighted date rape, both in advertisements and in the focus of prosecutors.

Here are five tips for the accused on how to handle this extremely delicate issue:

  1. Realize that a lifestyle of partying with women puts you at a much higher risk of false accusations.
  2. Make sure you put down as much information as you can about the incident, prosecutors may try to attack your memory of the event.
  3. If it’s possible to get witnesses or people who will back up your story, make absolutely sure to do so.
  4. Speak with an attorney who is experienced in rape and sexual offense matters who can help you in your case.
  5. Avoid talking too much to police until you’ve spoken to an attorney.
Written by Joe M

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