Three Montclair High School students have been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old special education student in a township home last week, police said.

The teenagers, who range in age from 16 to 18, compelled the girl to perform a sex act on them Thursday, police and prosecutors said. Then, they sexually assaulted her with a broomstick, according to two law enforcement sources close to the investigation. The sources asked not to be named because they are not allowed to speak publicly about the case.

"This is a horrible act and certainly a sad day for Montclair," Police Chief David Sabagh said this afternooon.

The girl also attends Montclair High School. Prosectuors declined to discuss her mental status today but law enforcement sources said prosecutors have subpeoned her school records to determine her mental capacity.

Romal Roberts, 18, was arrested Saturday morning at his Hartley Street home, where the alleged assault occurred, police said. He was charged with 18 counts first-degree aggravated sexual assault and was being held at the Montclair Police station this afternoon.

Police expected to move Roberts to the Essex County Jail in Newark, where he will be held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The two 16 year olds, whom police did not name because they are juveniles, were being held at the Essex County Youth House in Newark. The first was arrested Saturday morning at his home. The second surrendered at the Montclair police station around 3 this afternoon.

Both were charged with the juvenile version of the same 18 counts of first-degree aggravated assault Roberts is facing, authorities said.

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