20th suspect charged in Texas rape case

CLEVELAND, Texas, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Texas authorities said a 20th defendant had been charged in the alleged gang rape of an 11-year-old girl.

The 16-year-old high school student is one of 14 adults and six juveniles charged with assaulting the sixth-grader on at least four occasions in the town of Cleveland, north of Houston.

Defense attorneys have argued the alleged rapes were actually consensual; however, Liberty County prosecutor Wesley Hinch said the teenager charged this week was older than the victim and had no previous "dating relationship."

"The assaults happened in groups, Hinch told the Houston Chronicle.

The newspaper said the first court hearing in the case would be held Oct. 3.