Former Xavier Prep students caught in Vanderbilt rape case

Three of the men caught in the tracks of the Vanderbilt University rape case in Tennessee once walked the halls of Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert.

Police arrested former students Joseph Dominick Quinzio, 20, of Palm Desert and Miles Joseph Finley, 19, of Bermuda Dunes Friday near their homes on charges of tampering with electronic evidence to cover up the Vanderbilt rape case. A fugitive warrant is out for Quinzio and Finley in Tennessee.

Their involvement in the rape of a 21-year-old Vanderbilt student was unsettling to parents here in the Valley and the Xavier Prep campus.

“I was shocked. My son told me about it. He said, ‘Mama, they ruined their lives.’ It’s sad,” said Vicki Parada, a parent of an 11th grade student.

Finley was in court Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio where he pleaded guilty to an unrelated misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license in May.

Another former Xavier student, 20-year-old brandon Vandenburg, faces charges of aggravated rape and sexual battery in the alleged rape.

“My heart goes out to their parents,” said Parada.

All three men played football at Xavier Prep.

“It’s very discouraging to hear in the news, to see what’s happening involving these young men, very discouraging,” said Xavier Prep principal Chris Alling.

Parents and staff hope their alleged actions won’t tarnish the reputation of current and future students.

“There’s no other school like this one. No matter what the young men have done, we’re here to support our kids and staff,” said Parada.

As for Finley, his family turned out to his court hearing, but would not comment. His misdemeanor case had to be resolved before the county is able to extradite him to Tennessee.