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Teen Pleads Guilty To Sexually Assaulting Girl On School Bus

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2009

A teenager pleaded guilty today to charges he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl on a school bus parked at Dixie Hollins High School in Pinellas County in May, according to authorities.

Sentencing for Branden Allen, now 19, is scheduled for May 1.

Prosecutors will be asking Pinellas Circuit Judge Thane Covert to sentence Allen in accordance with guidelines, which range from roughly seven years to a maximum of 20 years, said Assistant State Attorney Douglas Ellis.

Allen's defense attorney is asking that Allen be sentenced as a youthful offender, Ellis said. That would mean a sentence ranging from probation to a maximum of six years, Ellis said.

Allen pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious battery and to false imprisonment, Ellis said.

On May 6, at roughly 6 p.m., Allen, then 18, sexually assaulted the girl on the bus while two other teenagers prevented other students from boarding, according to prosecutors and Pinellas Sheriff's detectives.

The two other teenagers involved – Jermeil Douse and Jacolbi Williams – were charged as juveniles with being principals to sexual battery and false imprisonment, but pleaded guilty to felony battery and false imprisonment. They were each sentenced to 18 months probation with the understanding if they stay out of trouble for that period of time they will not have any convictions on their record.

The two were poised to testify against Allen, Ellis said.

All three teenagers were on the Dixie Hollins football team.

The assault occurred on school grounds at 4940 62nd St. N. after the bus driver left the vehicle to round up students at Dixie who were going home late because they were involved in extracurricular activities or sports.

While the driver was gone, Allen opened the bus door and went inside, the Pinellas Sheriff's Office has said. The girl, whose name has not been released, followed to get a seat for the ride home. Williams and Douse boarded next.

Arrest affidavits say Allen sexually assaulted the girl twice and that she tried numerous times to get Allen to stop.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

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