Homestead alleged sexual assault victim's attorney speaks out

MEQUON -- Two 18-year-old Homestead High School students have been allowed back at school, after being charged with sexual assault, and that has sparked outrage from the family of the 14-year-old victim.

Verona Swanigan, the attorney for the 14-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted at Homestead High school says it's hard to even get through an interview with her client at this point, because she's so visibly upset.

Swanigan says Homestead High school and the Mequon-Thiensville School District have revictimized her client through their continued handling of the situation, particularly the fact that Brent Anderson and Deangelo Dantzler are back at school, despite being charged with second degree sexual assault of a child.

"They should have been suspended, but that should have been in a way that said that this will not be tolerated," Swanigan said.

Students at Homestead were also seen wearing t-shirts in support of the two suspects, and a 15-year-old who was also involved, in the presence of the victim's brother, who is still at the school. Mequon-Thiensville Superintendent Demond Means says the students were told to immediately take off the shirts. Means also says the school has punished the two 18-year-olds for violating school rules following their investigation into what the 14-year-old victim had originally said was consensual sex. The school investigation is ongoing, and last week, Means told FOX6 "to date, we haven't been able to sit down with the victim, her family, and our counsel and get the details of her new allegations." Means calls the entire incident "very disappointing."

Swanigan says the school was and still is unqualified to talk to a 14-year-old, who is alleging rape, and also points out it is illegal for a 14-year-old to consent. "I don't feel they are sufficiently or adequately trained to deal with this type of situation. The school kind of dropped the ball," Swanigan said.