`speed-the-plow' Mimics Hollywood's Brutal Shallowness

2 Injured In W-b Crash; Police Issue Warnings

By JOLYN RESNICK; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, November 12, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





SWOYERSVILLE- For the first time since they were allegedly harassed by 11
boys last month, two 16-year-old girls returned to the Swoyersville area known
as "hobo jungle." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It was frightening," one said Wednesday as she walked away from the site
just off Tripp Street. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Wyoming Valley West High School junior said she and her friend once
enjoyed "hobo jungle" for its peacefulness and solitude. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But, because of what they say happened on Oct. 26, both Forty Fort girls
said they doubt they will ever return. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In fact, one said, "I felt, like, betrayed. I trusted them." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Swoyersville Police Chief John F. Shemo announced earlier on Wednesday that
the boys- ranging in age from 9 to 15- will be petitioned to juvenile court. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because county offices were closed for Veterans Day, petitions for the
eight Swoyersville and three Kingston boys will be hand-carried to juvenile
court today, Shemo said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He said the boys admitted their involvement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One 14-year-old will be petitioned for indecent exposure, indecent assault
and open lewdness. A 12-year-old and a 15-year-old will be petitioned for
indecent assault, he said. All of the boys involved in the incident will be
petitioned for false imprisonment for encircling the girls, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shemo said the charges are misdemeanors. He did not know what punishment
the crimes would bring, but said the charges are considered serious. He also
said he did not believe the actions justified adult felony charges. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Luzerne County District Attorney Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. could not be
reached Wednesday for comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The chief said he will make sure the boys apologize to the girls.~~ "That
should be the first step. If the girls want to accept the apologies, that's
their business." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The entire Police Department assisted Shemo, a sergeant and the borough's
juvenile officer, Francis Baker, in the investigation, Shemo said. Robin
Rhone, the mother of one victim, said last month that Baker had told her "boys
will be boys," when she reported the incident. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Baker could not be reached for comment either last month or on Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But, Shemo said, "I felt they were improper words to use at that time." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rhone said the charges on Wednesday "made up for the remark." And, she
praised Shemo and his department for the work they did on the case, in
particular because the girls knew only one of the boys involved. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The incident occurred at about 5:15 p.m. on a Monday, said the girls, who
gave the following account. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To get to the "hobo jungle" the girls walked about a half-mile from their
homes. They went across what they said were abandoned railroad tracks to a
narrow, dirt-and-gravel trail that winds through thatch and leads to a dirt
clearing, pocked with large ditches that bike riders enjoy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They said they sat down on an abandoned couch and talked to a boy they
knew. A group of boys riding their bikes approached the girls. One made lewd
suggestions and exposed himself, according to Rhone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When they tried to leave, one girl said, she was thrown into a ditch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As a result of the attack, both girls are receiving counseling, Rhone said.
Her daughter cried all night after the incident occurred, she said. And, Rhone
continued, "I lost as much sleep as she did." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jolyn Resnick covers crime. Call her at 829-

11 Boys Charged In Assault Of 2 Girls Youths Admitted Their Involvement In Groping Of Two Teenage Girls, Said Swoyersville Police Chief