La Voz

Media Credit: Chris Marks The house where the alleged rapes took place. The property was transferred to a new owner on March 12.

This photo, uploaded to Stephen Rebagliati's Facebook site last October, is one of many showing students at a party. Facebook is a free and public networking site commonly used by college students. Among the interests listed on Rebagliati's page are "A Good Beer [and] A Good Blunt."

Pounding music, drinking and people pouring out of a small yellow home on South Buena Vista Avenue in San Jose gave the appearance of a typical party house.

The house is the location of two alleged rapes, months apart, and eight De Anza baseball players have been suspended from the team in violation of the department's ethics code.

Authorities are investigating De Anza students in connection with the rape claims, one which came from a 17-year old girl.

On March 3, at least 10 people watched and cheered while two De Anza baseball players had sex with the girl in a side room, said a witness to a party at the house, according to the Associated Press. Members of De Anza women's soccer team later took the girl to the hospital.

De Anza sophomore Stephen Rebagliati, 20, lived in the house with others at the time of the allegations. His grandfather was listed on public records as the owner.

Bart Hedrick, who used to rent the house years ago, and now lives across the street, said there were parties "every weekend, without fail … there was already no place to park and the parties had way more people than ever imaginable.

There were at least 50 people going in and out of the house, like a clown car."

"I remember walking over to one of the parties since they would also pour into the streets, and I would ask for a cigarette," said neighbor Kirk Teetters. "Even though I lived a few houses down near the back, I was still woken up many times by their partying."

"I get up at 4 a.m. to leave for work and my sleep has been interrupted throughout some nights due to the excessive partying with loud music, said neighbor Ron Silva. He complained to the local authorities at least once.

Rebagliati's Facebook Web site has a photo gallery of 102 photos, some depicting party scenes dated prior to March.

In one photo, Rebagliati is shown holding a plastic bag with a spout, pouring what appears to be wine, into the mouth of a woman. In another, he appears to be drinking a Coors Light using one hand, while holding another Coors Light in his other hand. A third photo depicts him drinking from an apparent full bottle of Southern Comfort.

Facebook is a popular networking Web site among college students, where they leave messages for one another, describe their daily activities, join groups and post photos.

The March 3 party at the house is believed to be a birthday party for De Anza baseball player Spencer Maltbie, 20, whose birthday falls on March 3.

On March 4, a female friend wrote a message on his Facebook page wishing him a happy birthday, and apologizing for not staying long.

Rebagliati is an officer and Maltbie is a member of the Facebook group, "Slap the Bladder," which refers to a "boxed wine (typically Franzia)" which is removed from the box and "slapped" before being consumed.

"The bladder is said to hit one like a freight train after a brief feeling of peace and serenity," according to the site. Most "Slap the Bladder" members attend colleges or universities including De Anza, UCLA and UCSB.

A photo accompanying the group shows a man drinking from the spout of an upturned plastic wine container.

Rebagliati did not respond to a La Voz request for comment. However, a posting attributed to him on his Facebook page said he "hates the media for the dirtbag scum they are" and he was innocent.

Rebagliati's FaceBook page stated it was last updated April 8; Maltbie's was last updated on April 19.

Student responses regarding the rape accusation appear to be mixed.

English major Lisa Bocanegra said, "All I know about it is what's on the news. No one really talks about it on campus."

Business major Jason Filingeri focused on the impact the accusations had on the baseball team. "My friend is on the team and he had nothing to do with it," he said. "And he says it sucks because everyone is giving him a hard time."

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