Five arrested for attempted gang-rape of 15-year-old

Four Covington men and an underage girl were arrested for an alleged attempt to gang rape a 15-year-old Covington girl in June, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.

Brett Ward, 24, 404 Pencarrow Circle; Clayton King, 18, 19472 Hulin Road; Michael Ayo, 21, 19472 Hulin Road; Derrick Maise, 19, 415 E. Magee Street and an unnamed 16-year-old female were each charged with one count of attempted aggravated rape, second-degree battery and sexual battery, Capt. George Bonnett, Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said.

Ayo was also booked with one count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile for additional sexual related crimes alone with the alleged victim.

The arrests stem from a June 20 incident at Ward’s Pencarrow Circle home. Ward was living at the residence with his parents, who were out of town at the time. The victim met King, Maise and the 16-year-old female at a local restaurant at 9 p.m. the night in question.

She knew one of her attackers, Bonnett said. From there, she was lured to the residence to meet Ward and Ayo, Bonnett said.

Later in the evening, the five perpetrators allegedly attacked the victim in an attempt to rape her, Bonnett said. Another incident occurred in the same room leading to Ayo’s additional charges. The victim’s mother notified the Sheriff’s Office on June 25 that the attack occured.

After interviewing the victim, arrest warrants were secured for all five suspects. Ward was arrested at his residence July 1. The other female juvenile was arrested the same day and transported to the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center. Ayo was arrested July 7 in the courthouse where he was being tried on an unrelated domestic violence charge. King and Maise were arrested July 10 in Tangipahoa Parish for breaking and entering into a residence there. Tangipahoa deputies noticed the St. Tammany warrants and contacted this agency.

Ward was being held in St. Tammany Parish jail in lieu of $95,000 bail while King, Ayo and Maise were held on $145,000 bond. The 16-year-old girl was held on $80,000 bond.