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Show revisits 2001 rape by teenagers in Youngstown
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
A high-profile rape case that riveted the city’s attention almost two decades ago will be revisited in Tuesday’s episode of the A&E crime series “Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole.” The show airs at 10 p.m.
In August 2001, three Youngstown teens were charged with the rape, kidnapping and aggravated robbery of a 21-year-old college student from Boardman. A fourth was charged only with aggravated robbery.
For the upcoming episode, an A&E film crew interviewed Delphine Baldwin-Casey, who at the time was a detective sergeant and lead rape investigator in the Youngstown Police Department.
“It was a horrible rape case and probably a much bigger story than you know,” Baldwin-Casey told The Vindicator. It took on political and racial overtones, she said.
The four teens were convicted and got varying sentences.
Brandon Moore received 112 years in prison, which was reduced to 50 years in 2018; Chaz Bunch received 80 years; Jamar Callier, seven years in exchange for testifying against the others; and Andre Bundy, 18 years for aggravated robbery.
“People have wanted me to talk about this case for years,” said Baldwin-Casey, “but I did not because of my concern for the victim, and also the history of the case.”
The A&E episode focuses on Moore, who will be 65 years old when he gets out of prison. Baldwin-Casey recalled meeting with the then-teen and his mother at the time of his arrest. “[His mother] brought him down to the police station, and he was filled with shame and remorse,” said Baldwin-Casey. “She was yelling at him, ‘How could you do that? What would you do if that happened to me or your sister?’ It was very emotional for me.”
The A&E docu-series, which is in its first season, tells the stories of convicted child offenders who were originally sentenced to mandatory life terms, without parole, and who are now seeking resentencing on the heels of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
It chronicles the crimes and the impact on the victims’ families as they grapple with the possibility that the offenders could be released. Commentary from the offenders, psychologists, law enforcement and reporters closest to each case are included.
The fact that two of the teenage offenders received jail sentences in excess of 100 years is what attracted the producers of “Kids Behind Bars” to the Youngstown case, said Baldwin-Casey.
Judge R. Scott Krichbaum presided over their court cases, and Paul Gains was the prosecutor. Baldwin-Casey, who was taken off the case before its conclusion, said she has not yet seen the episode.