More arrests pending

KERMIT More arrests are pending in the sexual assault and beating of a 16-year-old Kermit girl, Winkler County Sheriff's Deputy Chief George Keely said Thursday afternoon.

The charges and additional suspects were not identified, but Keely said "a lot of drinking was involved" during the Sept. 21 assault that left the girl with severe head injuries.

Several people were at Anthony Lee Bishop's house the morning of the assault, including adults, even though Keely said that the only two suspected of committing the assault were already arrested.

Those two, Joel Chon Hernandez, 18, and Bishop, 17, were booked into the Winkler County Jail in Kermit Wednesday and charged with aggravated sexual assault. Hernandez was about to pay his $50,000 bond at 4 p.m. Thursday, while Bishop was still being held on his $50,000 bond, Keely said. Keely could not confirm if either Bishop or Hernandez hired attorneys.

Winkler-Loving Independent School District Superintendent John Benham said Wink High School has not made any decision on what kind of disciplinary action it would take on the two suspects, who are seniors there. Hernandez was elected senior class vice president.

The students would have to come back to the school before any action could be taken, and school administrators have not seen the students since they were arrested at the school Wednesday, Benham said.

"We're ready to move forward if and when they return to Wink," Benham added.