Three Dixie Hollins High students accused in sexual assault on school bus

A Dixie Hollins High School student was sexually battered on a school bus by another student as two others acted as lookouts, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Three students at Dixie Hollins High, 4940 62nd St. N, were arrested on Thursday. Branden Allen, 18, was charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment, both felonies.

Jacolbi Williams, 15, and Jermeil Douse, 16, were charged as principals to sexual battery and false imprisonment, also felonies. Sheriff's spokeswoman Marianne Pasha said the three suspects were football players at the school.

Deputies say the incident happened on school grounds about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday on the bus that stays late to take home students who participate in after-school activities. The driver left to round up students who were running late.

That's when Allen of 5432 Lynn Lake Drive in St. Petersburg forced the empty bus door open and got on, deputies say. The victim followed, looking for a seat. Then Williams, 2901 Fourth Ave. S in St. Petersburg, and Douse, 1535 Scanton St. S in St. Petersburg, entered and acted as lookouts while Allen sexually battered the girl by digitally penetrating her, deputies say.

The girl, who was not identified, repeatedly told them to stop, but the abuse didn't end until other students got on the bus, Pasha said. Afraid, the girl did not report the incident until she got home, Pasha said.

The incident was caught on a surveillance camera, and the suspects are identifiable in the video, Pasha said. Allen and Williams made some admissions, she said.

Allen, the only adult, was booked in the Pinellas County Jail on $55,000 bond. The other teens were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

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Comments on this article

by pistol pete	May 9, 2008 5:44 PM
man they need to be let free charged for no reason hopefully the judge fairly and right and not charged for their race

by father	May 9, 2008 5:43 PM
Go ahead and crucify them. If they did that to my daughter they would be dead inside the year anyway. They are most definetly NOT all good kids.

by Ted	May 9, 2008 5:40 PM
He was just mad about slavery.

by Only time will tell	May 9, 2008 5:39 PM
I do believe in innocent until proven guilty. I’m happy that this was captured on camera and I hope it included all sound. This is a lesson to us all. We must talk to our children and teach them to think for themselves.

by Concerned citizen	May 9, 2008 5:39 PM
Dixie Student - Thanks for your thoughtful comments. These are obviously good kids, and brave. 3 criminals to sexually brutalize 1 victim. Is that what good kids do for fun these days? What do you do in your spare time?

by Allen	May 9, 2008 5:36 PM
Yes they are all good kids who "did't do nuffin" how come we here that excuse over and over again about how great they were when they commit a horrible crime. If they were great kids, they sure wouldn't rape.

by kristin	May 9, 2008 4:21 PM
This story troubles me so much. It made CNN.com and they had the decency to say "sexual assault" not the graphic mention of the Times, shame on the editors for describing the poor girl's trama. These boys are on tape thank God. Pray for the girl.

by christi	May 9, 2008 3:20 PM
i dont think she was telling the truth

by Biff	May 9, 2008 3:20 PM
Yeah the 16 year old sounds like a great person. He's a real team player! He really looks out for his friends! I hope they lock him up until he's 21...or older if possible.

by yipes	May 9, 2008 3:20 PM
Good people ? Good kids ? So rape is good ? There is nothing respectable about raping a girl digitally or other. Publishing their names holds them to a certain degree of accountability. Commit an adult crime pay the price.

by Tom	May 9, 2008 3:20 PM
If the 16 year old is a good person why did he stand lookout while his friend assaulted a girl. If he was a good young man he would have fought to protect the girl. He's a coward and a criminal not a good person.

by ms	May 9, 2008 3:20 PM
Hey Fairtrial, did you miss the part of the story that said they were caught on surveillance camera and they are identifiable in the video hurting this girl. Guilty as charged. Get some water and start eating your words.

by ms	May 9, 2008 3:20 PM
Hey Dixie Student, they are not good kids, to do something like this, they are scum, good thing they got caught on video cause now they will be judged fairly. Guilty as charged. 20 years in prison to be punked by others jail birds. Revoke their bail

by Ryan	May 9, 2008 3:19 PM
When I saw this, I guessed the race of the perpetrator and after clicking on the article I was correct. What a suprise. I am sure many others did the same thing.

by m	May 9, 2008 3:19 PM
ron sounds like an idiot crime happens every open your eyes man

by Reggie	May 9, 2008 3:14 PM
Why is it, that, they don't mention the skin color of CRIMINAL anymore? Only when the Criminal is white, will they mention it???

by Rev whight	May 9, 2008 3:14 PM
It is not their fault. They did not do this. It is a whiteRepublican tactic to hold back peeps a calla.

by todd	May 9, 2008 3:14 PM
why did the bus diver leave the bus? he should of left the shcool

by ally	May 9, 2008 3:14 PM
i don not think that douse and williams had anything to do with it. well, i mean that mabye just mabye they were just on the bus unaware of what allen and the girl was doing at the back of the bus. well, that's how i see it. let Gouse go please

by whitedixiestudent	May 9, 2008 3:13 PM
and since when did it become a racial thing. black people on the southside what kind of racist crap is that. are we back in those times now. if its like that then maybe WHITE people are easy. how about that for racisim and yes i'm WHITE too!

by Beth	May 9, 2008 3:13 PM
Put the little Bas)*)( in jail for abt 6 months see how they like that. And let them get molested. Parents must be real proud.

by SB	May 9, 2008 2:04 PM
I hope these idiots are labels as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. They should all serve time

by BA	May 9, 2008 2:04 PM
Why don't the young men get the same treatment as Debra Lafave?

by only time will tell	May 9, 2008 2:03 PM
I can only speak for one of the three boys, the 16 year old. He is a good person. He is a respectable young man. I am highly upset that the full names and addresses of the two minors were published.

by Fairtrial	May 9, 2008 11:48 AM
There still has to be a court case. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty. If they are guilty OK, but lets not crucify them. They will be given a fair trial and then you can judge them. If they are guilty I will eat my words.

by Dixie Student	May 9, 2008 11:48 AM
This is crap! They are all good kids. I hope they are okay and judged fairly! This shouldn't be a case of race either!

by Debbie	May 9, 2008 11:46 AM
Eric go back to heath ed. and learn anatomy,the things at the end of ur arm are digits.

by v	May 9, 2008 9:41 AM
I DONT THINK THE BOY SHOULD OF BEEN ON BAIL. HE SHOULD OF STAYED IN THERE UNTIL TIME FOR COURT. HE DOESNT DESERVE ANY FREEDOOM!! AND SAME GOES FOR THE OTHER TEENS.

by Pasco Mom	May 9, 2008 9:41 AM
This assault is vile. SHAME on those boys. I'm glad there was video to back the girl up. Prayers for the girl.

by Reeves	May 9, 2008 9:41 AM
Send the 18-year-old to jail where he will be penetrated with other things. Send the other two idiots to a juvi center for a long time.

by Ron	May 9, 2008 9:41 AM
Another fine bunch of "SOUTHSIDE" residents! Why does a vast and yes I said Vast majority or shooting, robberies and crap like this take place and it either happens on the southside or done by southside resident's Where is Al Sharpton when he is need

by Laurie	May 9, 2008 9:40 AM
I'm glad you published their names even though they were minors. These punks have to realize that they can't remain in the shadows when they commit these horrific crimes. I hope they are punished to the fullest extent.

by Drew	May 9, 2008 9:40 AM
All 3 should be charged as adults. Maybe the tables get turned and they can be the victims.

by Rev Wrighty	May 9, 2008 9:40 AM
Rqce is not an issue in crime: http://pcsoweb.com/InmateBooking/SubjectResults.aspx?id=1302482

by Eric	May 9, 2008 9:40 AM
What is digital penetration?