UMass Rape Suspects Ordered To Submit DNA Samples

A judge ordered three defendants charged with raping a female student at the University of Massachusetts to give DNA samples to investigators.

Lawyers for all three men objected to the order Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court. But immediately after the hearing, Emmanuel Bile, 19, and Adam Liccardi, 18, both of Pittsfield, and Caleb Womack, 18, of Windsor Locks, Conn., submitted cheek-swab samples.

A fourth defendant in the case, Justin King, 19, of Pittsfield, had already had submitted a DNA sample.

The DNA is needed to compare with samples collected from the woman, prosecutor Jennifer Suhl said.

Liccardi's attorney, Alfred Chamberland, argued that two of the samples from the alleged victim were small and should not be used as a basis for comparison. Jonah Goldsmith, representing Womack, was granted permission by the judge to be present while the sample was collected.

All four are charged with raping the student in her Amherst dorm room in October. None of the suspects is a UMass student, but each knew the woman. They are free on bail after pleading not guilty to charges of aggravated rape. Their lawyers say the sex was consensual.

The student, who drank alcohol and smoked marijuana with the defendants, told police she didn't consent to sex.

The woman had told the men not to visit her, but they were allowed into the dorm by another student, prompting the university to revamp security measures.

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