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Two Men Charged With Assaulting Teen

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Two Men Charged With Assaulting Teen

By Michael George

MILWAUKEE -- Two men were charged Sunday with grabbing a teen and sexually assaulting her as she left a convenience store. It happened at the 600 block of S. Hawley Rd. According to court documents, the suspects stopped the two girls outside the store and lured them away by grabbing one of their cell phones. The girls appear to have been picked at random. The alleged attack has neighbors concerned. "It's kind of scary," said resident Lisa Wendorf. "I'm very shocked to hear that," said neighbor Chris Wiberg. More shocking when you hear what 32-year old Lonnell Fitzpatrick and his 19-year old cousin Alvarez Grose are accused of doing. The girls say they were brought to a wooded area where no one could see them. Both men allegedly sexually assaulted one of the teens, while her friend was forced to watch. According to the criminal complaint, after the first assault, Fitzpatrick ordered his cousin to have sex with the teen. Grose reportedly admitted to police, "I know this for a fact, she didn't want to do it." The suspects left, and the teens ran to a nearby restaurant and called for help. Ann LaFleur lives near where the crime happened. It's a neighborhood where plenty of children live. "It just bothers me for kids that they can't be outside here and playing and just doing things," LaFleur said. Both men allegedly admitted to the assault. Fitzpatrick is facing life in prison without parole if convicted. Grose could get more than 40 years. The family of the suspects contacted TODAY'S TMJ4 and disputes the police version of the events. They believe whatever happened between the suspects and the alleged victims was consensual.