Defense on attack in gang-rape case

Marisa O’Neil

Defense attorneys on Tuesday continued their attack on the

credibility of the alleged victim in a gang-rape case, with a string

of witnesses testifying she was a liar who craved popularity at her

high school.

Five former friends of Jane Doe, as the now 19-year-old woman is

known in court, testified on Tuesday, each saying they were friends

with her prior to the 2002 incident. Each described her as a “liar”

or “dishonest person,” when questioned by defense attorneys.

“She would make these extravagant, far-out lies for no reason,”

said 19-year-old Jenna Stroh, who described Doe as “a very good

friend.” “I worried about her because she would have sex with guys

she didn’t even know [and because of] her drinking, her lying.”

Another former friend, Hayley Fiore, 18, of Rancho Cucamonga, said

that Doe wanted desperately to fit in with the popular crowd at

school.

“It seemed like she’d do anything to fit in,” Fiore said.

Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Chuck Middleton said that the former

friends are just ganging up on Doe.

“Whenever you have a group like this, they always have one person

they flip on,” he said outside the courthouse. “She’s the one being

dumped on. It’s brutal when you see that happen.”

Prosecutors say that Rancho Cucamonga residents Kyle Nachreiner

and Keith Spann, both now 20, and 19-year-old Greg Haidl plied a

16-year-old Doe with alcohol, raped her and sexually assaulted her

with various objects while she was unconscious. The July 2002

incident was videotaped by the defendants in the Corona del Mar home

of Haidl’s father, former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl.

Jurors viewed the videotape last month. The defendants face up to

23 years in prison if convicted.

As in the first trial -- which ended last year with a hung jury --

defense attorneys have characterized Doe as a promiscuous,

hard-drinking teen who willingly participated in the incident and

feigned her apparent unconsciousness.

Defense attorneys have also made attempts to cast doubt on the

veracity of her story by pointing out inconsistencies in Doe’s

testimony. Tuesday’s defense witnesses continued to answer questions

about Doe’s reputation prior to the July 5, 2002, incident.

Stroh testified that she, Doe and two other friends attended a

party with the defendants at Haidl’s home the night before the

alleged assault. Doe acted “really drunk,” and asked her friends to

help her get into a swimming pool naked with Nachreiner, whom she’d

just met, Stroh said.

“You’re undressing your friend, knowing she’s drunk?” Middleton

asked. “You helped your best friend be in that pool naked with

someone she’d just met?”

“That’s what she asked,” Stroh replied.

Two of Doe’s former friends testified that following news reports

of the alleged rape, Doe told them that the defendants wouldn’t have

had to get her drunk, that she would have “done it anyways.”

After seeing stuffed animals, cards and gifts in Doe’s car,

18-year-old Alex Chapman said, Doe joked about the incident.

“She laughed and said: ‘That’s the cool thing about getting

raped,’” Chapman said. “‘I should get raped more often. You get

gifts.’”

Victims of assaults deal with their stress in different ways,

Middleton said outside the courthouse.

Doe has a “flippant” sense of humor and uses it as a coping

mechanism, he said.

The jury has today off, and the judge will discuss upcoming

witnesses with attorneys. Defense attorneys are expected to call Jane

Doe’s parents and a neurologist to the witness stand on Thursday.

Closing arguments are expected to take place next week.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil @latimes.com.