Local rape counselors concerned Kobe the cause of fewer reports

SUMMIT COUNTY - Local rape counselors are concerned that fewer rape victims are calling for help after months of national spotlights on rape allegation cases against Kobe Bryant and University of Colorado football players and recuits.

Whereas 12 rape victims called the rape crisis line by this time last year, only five victims have called so far this year, said Regan Wood, director of the Summit County Advocates for Victims of Assault.

Numbers of rape victims seeking assistance in Summit County dropped 39 percent between 2002 and 2003, from 32 cases down to 23 cases.

Wood and her rape crisis counselors say they have reason to believe the rapes are still happening in Summit County. The typical sexual assault occurs during spring break in the resort communities, Wood said.

"Last March we had to have backup volunteers during spring break season in the mountains," Wood said. "We feel rape victims don't want to come forward now because they don't want their life turned upside down like these women who are going through hell right now all over again."

Most people have already made up their minds that Bryant's accuser is lying before the court has made a ruling, said Sarah Vaine, assistant director of the Advocates.

People believe Bryant is innocent because of factors beyond whether the incident was consensual, Vaine said after months of discussions with teens and adults in Summit County.

Factors such as sexual history, the accuser's mental state, Bryant's fame and marital status have less to do with whether a rape took place, Vaine said. What matters is whether she said "no."

Wood wants to get the message out that her organization has resources for sexual-assault victims, but does not require the victim to report the incident to law enforcement.

The concern increased after Wood recently talked with counselors from across the state who are associated with the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault is reserving judgment on the effects of the nationally publicized Colorado cases.

"We don't know yet. It's a time-will-tell thing," said Cynthia Stone of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. "There isn't an easy correlation that can be determined at this point."

Statewide statistics of reports to law enforcement agencies for 2003 will not be compiled by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation until summer, Stone said.

It is important to note that the number of victims in high-profile cases continues to increase, Stone said.

"We always need to remember that individual victims react differently, and we need to allow them to be how they are and react how they do," Stone said.

"Rape crisis centers do a good job, and we don't want to see anyone go through it alone."

Victims who do not seek professional help after nonconsensual sex experience intimacy problems and post-traumatic stress disorder, Wood said. The perpetrator typically is not a stranger.

The 24-hour crisis line for Summit County Advocates for Victims of Assault is (970) 668-3906.

A counselor will return the call within a half-hour and the victim has access to free counseling, support groups, sexually transmitted disease tests, the morning-after pregnancy prevention pill and other exams, if desired.

Christine McManus can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 229 or at cmcmanus@summitdaily.com.