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The Hampden County Hall of Justice.

(THE REPUBLICAN FILE)

Editor's note: This story was changed at 3:40 p.m. Thursday to correct the name of the hotel where the assault was alleged to have occurred. The hotel had been incorrectly identified during court proceedings.

SPRINGFIELD — Five defendants pleaded not guilty Wednesday to raping a 20-year old woman last week in a West Springfield hotel room.

The suspects, all Chicopee residents, were arrested by West Springfield police and arraigned late Wednesday afternoon in Springfield District Court.

Charged with kidnapping and aggravated rape were Giovanni Gutierrez, 19, of 70 Broadway St.; Tyler Gibson, 19, of 95 Ward St.; Joseph Lopez, 19, of 12 Lorreta St.; and Fernando Ramos, 21, and Raoul Ramos 22, who are brothers and live at 519 Grattan St.

Judge Robert Murphy set bail at $25,000 for the Ramos brothers; $10,000 for Lopez and Gutierrez; and $5,000 for Gibson.

"Gentleman, you are in custody," the judge said after imposing bail.

Assistant District Attorney Victoria Lauro said the defendants and a sixth man took turns raping the woman during a party in a room at the Knights Inn on Riverdale Street on Jan. 15.

The defendants used a cell phone to film the assaults, which took place between 4:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., the prosecutor said.

Injured, bleeding and exhausted, the woman escaped when her assailants fell asleep, according to Lauro, who said she knew the men from attending Chicopee Comprehensive High School.

Defense lawyers challenged the victim's account, claiming she admitted drinking and taking drugs and later drove two of the defendants home.

"The facts are more than confusing," lawyer John Rasmussen said, referring to a five-page statement the victim gave to West Springfield police.

None of the defendants have criminal records, the lawyers said, and two are not identified as assailants in the victim's police report.

Murphy scheduled a pretrial conference for Feb. 19.