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Ramsey County Attorney John Choi on Thursday charged four young men for an alleged 

The violent incident took place early Tuesday morning in downtown St. Paul on Harriet Island. Vershone Jaquay Hodges, 20; Devontre Jordan Vann, 19; Deandray Artez Easley, 18; and a 16-year-old, all face two counts of first-degree criminal sexual assault, four counts of first-degree aggravated robbery and two counts of kidnapping.

Three of the four men are known gang members, prosecutors say, and they'll try charging the one minor as an adult. 

"Despite the victims complying with their orders and handing over their valuables, the perpetrators in this case forced the female victims into a car and repeatedly raped them," Choi said in a statement. 

The four victims, two of whom were dating, went to McDonald's and took their drive-thru food to a parking lot on Harriet Island at about 11:15 p.m. Monday.

The alleged assailants then approached the group of 17 and 18 year olds as they ate on the trunk of their vehicle. One of the male victims recognized the 16-year-old from school and playing basketball, and they talked to each other. 

Then it turned violent. The 16-year-old pulled a gun and told a victim to empty his pockets. The rest of the juvenile's group ran to the car. They then ordered the victims to the ground as they searched their car. 

They stole money, a purse and everyone's phones — even forcing the victims at gunpoint to unlock their phones, and turn off applications that could allow them to trace the stolen devices. 

The assailants forced the male victims to strip to their underwear in the parking lot.  

The 16-year-old and another man who covered his face raped the female victims and forced them to perform sexual acts. 

Easley asked one of the victims if she consented to having sex, and she said no. He apologized and said he didn't think the others would do that. 


The 16-year-old told the other female victim to say she consented to sex if Easley asked. So, when Easley asked her if she did consent, she lied and said yes, thinking she wouldn't get hurt more. 

When the assaults ended, someone threw the victims' car keys in the bushes, where the assailants said they had someone else waiting. If the victims went looking for the keys or for help before 1:28 a.m. Tuesday, they would be shot, the assailants said. 

The victims eventually found someone on the island to help them.

Correction (June 9, 2017): A previous version of this story gave an incorrect location for the incident. The story has been updated.

Crime, Law and Justice

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Cody Nelson

Author

Three of the four men charged are known gang members, according to the Ramsey County Attorney.

Devontre Vann, 19, Deandray Artez Easley, 18, Vershone Jaquay Hodges, 20

4 charged in rape, robbery in downtown St. Paul

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