Kids under 13 can’t be charged with rape in Ohio. But the Ohio Supreme Court will decide if they can be charged with other sex crimes if both involved in the act were under 13. The court heard argumentsin a case involving a 12-year-old and a nine-year-old.Not much is known about what happened between the boys. So attorney David Strait argued charging the 12-year-old with gross sexual imposition violates his rights because Ohio law protects kids under 13. “If both the offender and the alleged victim are within that protected class, then this distinction between the two breaks down.”But Franklin County assistant prosecutor Seth Gilbert said going forward with the case would give prosecutors a chance to show evidence that the older boy was the aggressor. “To dismiss a complaint at the very beginning without any information other than the bare minimum facts alleged in the complaint, we feel is an abuse of discretion.”There was no force alleged here, but state law bans sex with children under 13, saying they are unable to consent. Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.
The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.
Ohio Supreme Court Will Decide If Child Under 13 Can Be Charged With Sex Crime
