Milwaukee Sexual Assault Shocker

Sept. 8, 2006 — -- It is an alleged crime so depraved and shocking that residents of Milwaukee are shaking their heads in disbelief and disgust.

On Monday, an 11-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by as many as 20 boys while she was reportedly coached by a 16-year-old girl she was romantically interested in.

If that sounds confusing, it is. And there's more. The 16-year-old girl's 40-year-old uncle admitted he also had sex with the 11-year-old. He has told police that his niece was coaching the girl, though she has denied it. The youths' names have not been released because of their ages.

Milwaukee District Attorney E. Michael McCann told ABC News the case is particularly onerous and difficult to comprehend because of the alleged involvement of the uncle. "This is tragic, serious; it's hard to understand, particularly with an adult man present who would permit this to go forward," he said. "It's distressing, tragic and sad."

Police say it all began as a childhood crush, and now the 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy have been charged in juvenile court for the alleged crime. Investigators are still trying to identify and locate the other boys who were in the house when the sexual assaults occurred.

"We're dealing with a lot of nicknames, so we're trying to track down these people," prosecutor Matthew Torbenson said.

McCann is not optimistic. "I've been a D.A. for 38-years. I'd be surprised if all the people could be identified," he said. "But we will prosecute as many as can be identified and where there's proof to proceed."

The young victim told police that she was interested in the older girl, who apparently dressed and looked like a boy, according to court records. Things reportedly got out of hand when the 11-year-old and two friends went to the teen's house where the child performed oral sex on three teenage boys.

The 11-year-old told police she then went down to the basement where there were about 15 other boys and she "began to choose who she wanted to perform oral sex on," the records reveal.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has described the allegations as "disgusting and deeply troubling."

The director of a neighborhood improvement organization was also shocked by the story. "It almost leaves me speechless," said Barbara Nuell-Moore, who heads Project Respect. She called it "embarrassing" to the city of Milwaukee and its residents. "It is just senseless acts of violence. It's inhumane. There should be outrage."

Officially, the Milwaukee Police Department is not commenting. However, spokesperson Anne Schwartz told ABC News, "We're in the middle of the investigation, and there's a lot more to the story."