RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — Four teens could appear in court as early as Thursday after being charged in the alleged gang rape of a 15-year-old girl outside her high school homecoming dance in Northern California.

The four — ages 15, 16, 17 and 19 — were charged Wednesday with rape and enhancements that they acted in concert, which could make them eligible for life in prison.

"These are people who played a significant role in the incident," Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan said. "I'm confident that more arrests will be made."

Besides rape, the 19-year-old, Manuel Ortega of Richmond, was charged with robbery and assault causing great bodily injury. It was unknown if he had an attorney.

The other three face one count each of felony rape with a foreign object. They were charged as adults because of the severity of the crime, Gagan said. The 16-year-old also faces robbery charges.

All four remained in custody Wednesday. A fifth suspect arrested Tuesday, 21-year-old Salvador Rodriguez of Richmond, also remained jailed but had not been charged.

The alleged gang rape and beating Saturday night at Richmond High School have rattled the city of about 120,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Police believe as many as 10 people ranging in age from 15 to mid-20s attacked the girl for more than two hours in a dimly lit area. As many as two dozen people witnessed the rape without notifying police.

Gagan said the victim, a sophomore, left the dance and was walking to meet her father for a ride home when a classmate invited her to join a group drinking in the courtyard. The girl had consumed a large amount of alcohol by the time the assault began, police said.

Gagan said the girl's father tried to call her cell phone, but no one answered.

Police received a tip about a possible assault on campus from a former student, who heard two males bragging about it. Officers found the girl semiconscious and naked from the waist down near a picnic table.

She was released from the hospital Wednesday.

Police hope a $20,000 reward will bring more people forward with information.

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It's not only sad what happened to the little girl. It's sad that a bunch of depraved people stood around watching and didn't offer to help her. Maybe they thought they were living an episode of Grand Theft Auto. I don't know what's wrong with people anymore. And I hate the video games and other media that celebrate criminality and depravity.

by   
CAmira
October 29, 2009, 3:47 pm
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@ Raywil3 it's not just Black kids, is all of the youth today. Some of these attackers were supposedly Hispanic. There was an incident here in NC where 4 white kids loured one of their ffriends to an unoccupied house & killed him. So there is no discremination in the "Recklessness" of today's youth. Not only are they not afraid to die, but they are not afraid to kill either!!

by   
Jerzie
October 29, 2009, 2:24 pm
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Uncletom can't be a real person. Who could make light of a brutal attack like this? The people who stood, watched and did nothing are worse than the attackers. They approved what happened. Black kids have no respect for others. Catch them all and throw away the key.

by   
Raywil3
October 29, 2009, 1:42 pm
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LOOK over uncle tom he had to much Bourbon this morning with his coffee.( it was funny but not in this case) They all should go to jail and im sure they will california state law.. Lesson to all u liltte GIRLS who wanna drink and u cant handle it think twice b/c GUYS love to see a girl drunk they can spot u a mile away.

by   
Milkkman
October 29, 2009, 1:32 pm
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Life just gets more horrific! This poor girl will be messed up for the rest of her life. Bad enough it happend for 2hrs with multiples offenders and was recorded but you mean as many as 20 stood around watching like they were at a stag party??? There is no excuse! I hope they catch all involved and throw them in prison with the burliest men they can find!!!

by   
Niagaras4me
October 29, 2009, 12:48 pm
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And BlackAmericaWeb was complaining that Gov. Perdue was halting the release of criminals who received 80 year sentences.

Do yall realize what one has to do in order to receive an 80 year sentence?

by   
A_day_in_the_life
October 29, 2009, 11:39 am
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Uncletom
sounds like you would be one of the ones watching and doing nothing. Your comment was sick

by   
RaaSaa
October 29, 2009, 11:20 am
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if convicted and sent to prison they wil be raped over and over and over.......
Justice

by   
RaaSaa
October 29, 2009, 11:15 am
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It is called rape and it is a horrible disregard for another human being. I feel badly for the young lady. This act was premeditated and all involved are sick as well as those who stood around , watched and did nothing.

by   
Rneely
October 29, 2009, 10:58 am
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I will never understand how some people can have so little compassion that they can standby and watch this horrible act. They are as guilty as the animals that did this.

by   
Greenp628
October 29, 2009, 10:50 am
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NO IT'S CALLED RAPE !! AS IN SEXUAL****AULT !!

by   
Jerzie
October 29, 2009, 9:00 am
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Some call it AMTRAK. I call it a train.

by   
Uncletom
October 29, 2009, 6:44 am
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