Attorneys for two teenage girls arrested and charged with kidnapping a lesbian classmate and trying to push her off a cliff have said that the victim, Cheyenne Williams, was a willing participant in what was nothing more than a prank.
The two teens accused of trying to kill Williams, 18, went before a judge for the first time Monday morning.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Monday that Ashley Sams and Corinne Schwab, both 18, pleaded not guilty to the charges during a brief hearing and their attorneys have asked for a preliminary hearing in the case to be held Thursday, April 29.
Detective Joie Peters, who is handling the case, told the Herald-Leader he would not characterize the alleged attack as a hate crime and that it appears the incident began as a prank but escalated to the point Williams was frightened and sustained injuries.
The two Jackson County High School seniors, along with a third 17-year-old student, are accused of taking Williams to Flatlick Falls in Kentucky and trying to push her off a cliff earlier this month because she is lesbian.
The incident happened on April 16, a national "Day of Silence" intended to raise awareness about bullying and harassment due to sexual orientation. Williams' mother believes discrimination was at the root of the attack.
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