Juveniles at Families First group home arrested for rape

On Wednesday June 5, a 13 year old male and 14 year old male were taken into temporary custody by the Davis Police Department (DPD) after an 11 year old female reported that she had been raped by the boys. All the minors reside at Families First, a group home that houses and supports youth. Families First is located at 2100 Fifth Street in Davis. The boys are being held at Yolo County Juvenile Hall.

According to the police report, the sexual assault did not occur on the property of families first and the youth had left the property without permission. Other youth from Families First were present but their involvement is still being investigated.

“During the course of the investigation, multiple other incidents of illegal sexual activity were discovered,” said Lt. Glen Glasgow of the DPD in a press release.

This incident follows other felony arrests of youth at Families First, including many who were recently arrested for serious assault offences. The police report states that there have been over 500 calls to the DPD from Families First in 2013 and over 100 youth have run away from the group home.

The DPD has been working with Families First staff to reduce incidents but have not had much success. They are now working with the State Department of Social Services, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and Yolo County Child Welfare Services to investigate illegal behavior and any violations that go against the license for the facility. Several minors have been taken into protective custody and removed from the facility.

Glasgow said the DPD will not be releasing detailed information because of confidentiality requirements regarding juvenile cases.

— Paayal Zaveri