Audrie Pott's parents are turning their grief and anger into an effort to toughen California sex-crime laws.
Lawrence and Sheila Pott have filed suit against the boys, and they are working for passage in California of Audrie's Law to toughen the state's sex crime statutes.
Audrie, of Saratoga, was 15 when she committed suicide in September 2012. Eight days earlier, after drinking Gatorade laced with alcohol at a party, she woke up with her pants off and lewd comments scrawled on her body.
Cellphone photos taken of her were shared in text messages.
The boys, two of them 15 and one 16 when the party took place, were arrested in April. The San Jose Mercury News, citing documents and other "direct information" it obtained, said this week that all admitted in juvenile court to sexual assault and possessing photos of the girl.
The paper said the younger boys served 30 days during weekends and that the older one was sentenced to 45 consecutive days in jail.
The identities of the boys have not been publicly revealed because the case was handled in juvenile court.
Lawrence and Sheila Pott are divorced, and Audrie split her time between their homes. Their lawyer, Robert Allard, told USA TODAY that his clients are incensed that lawyers for the teens and their parents are alleging that Audrie's suicide was a result of her emotional problems, rather than the boys' assault.
"One parent has been quoted as saying it was a prank that went too far," Allard said. "It's distasteful and disconcerting."
Allard said all the facts will come out at the civil trial, which he expects will take place by year's end.
"It's not about money," Allard said. "They are going to be sitting there in an open courtroom defending their actions."
Audrie's Law, which Allard said will be introduced in the Legislature this month by state Sen. Jim Beall, has four key points:
• Sexual assault involving penetration of any kind would become a felony for both juveniles and adults.
• The judge would be given discretion for serious crimes to disclose a minor's name and records publicly. The juvenile would be listed as a sex offender, which would give parents and school administrators the right to know the juvenile's identity.
• Equal protection under the laws relating to sexual assault would be afforded to unconscious victims.
• It would be an automatic felony to disseminate photographs depicting the commission of any sexual assault.
The Mercury News cited this comment from Audrie, posted in private messages on Facebook in the days before her suicide: "My life is over. I have a reputation for a night I don't even remember, and the whole school knows."
"This case is and will always be about the tragic consequences associated with sexual assault and cyberbullying," Allard said.
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