Young Criminals

[Justin Melick]

That's no good:
[/size]

Ga. Boys Ages 8 and 9 Charged With Rape

Nov 19 12:50 PM US/Eastern
By SHANNON McCAFFREY
Associated Press Writer


Charged with Rape, Kidnapping, False Imprisonment and Sexual Assault


ACWORTH, Ga. (AP) - Three boys ages 8 and 9 were being held Monday in a detention center on charges of kidnapping and raping an 11-year-old girl in the woods near a suburban apartment complex, officials said.
The alleged attack happened Thursday and the girl's mother reported it to authorities Sunday, Acworth police Capt. Wayne Dennard said.

"The victim said they were playing outdoors and the girl was forced into a wooded area where she was sexually assaulted, where one of the boys raped her," Dennard told The Associated Press.

The three boys—an 8-year-old and two 9-year-olds—were charged with rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment and sexual assault, Dennard said. They were due in juvenile court Monday afternoon. Their names were being withheld because of their age.

Dennard would not comment further.

Prosecutors had not received the case report from police on Monday, nor had they decided whether to try the suspects as adults.

"That decision hasn't been made," said Kathy Watkins, a spokeswoman for the Cobb County District Attorney's office. She had no further comment.

Acworth, 30 miles northwest of Atlanta along the shores of Lake Allatoona, is a town of about 17,000.

"This wouldn't be normal anywhere, but especially not Acworth," Dennard said.

[maddy]

Just sick, sick, sick.

[queenbee]

When I heard this on th enews this morning I just shook my head.

What can you say.

[summerose]

maddy said:

Just sick, sick, sick.

I agree!

[cubby]

When I heard this, I wanted to cry. It is a scary world we are in, and raising our children in. Those are the ages of my boys...and the thought of it...oh my God, I can't even begin to imagine...

[queenbee]

What kills me is they shouldn't even know about this.
What happened to Tonka trucks and plastic army men, barbie dolls and plastic tea sets?

Just another reason I want it to slow down and stop changing so fast.

[cubby]

I AGREE QUEENBEE! Completely! We haven't even had "the talk" yet. At 8 and 9, I cannot even imagine. My hubby and I sweat over it...when do we have the talk? Do they already know more than they should? I don't want to open their minds to things they don't know about, but I also don't want to have them being taught the wrong things and ugly things! UGHHHHHHHHHHH!!! To think little kids are out there not only knowing this stuff, but already using it in an ugly way! It's infuriating, it's depressing and it's scary.

[queenbee]

Lilred and I had the talk early becuase she rode the school bus and even worse was the playground in 5th grade.

OUCH!

She was pretty good about it and felt smug that she knew the truth and the other kids had no idea what they were talking about. I explained that she "COULD NOT" share her knowledge with the other kids just let them know they weren't correct.

She also had a friend younger than her and e-mailed her to ask her how to keep her OLDER boyfriend (16) she asked what I thought she should say, I had her tell her my mom say's to "keep your mouth shut and your legs together" lilred thought she would be mad but the girl just laughed, she has no idea how serious I was.

[The Marshal]

Now there's a mess of youngins who coulda used a few switchings with a hickory.

[summerose]

themarshall said:

Now there's a mess of youngins who coulda used a few switchings with a hickory.

I agree Marshall! Spare the rod and spoil the child.

[pugs]

That's the problem today Marshall you can't discipline your children like we were disciplined with a good old hickory adjustment without defacts taking your child and taking you to court for child abuse the kids now have the upper hand on the parents sad but true you can't guide them with a balance of love and respect you can't teach them right from wrong without the government stepping in.

[taylor]

I. too, read this online. It is sick, shameful, and unbelievable. It opens so many doors to questions - Where did the boys learn about sex? What influences did they have that would cause them to commit this crime? How will the judicial system handle these young boys in what would be considered an adult crime? SO many questions.....

As for the discipline of children, I understand the fears parents have today - you discipline your child, and wonder how long before DFCS comes knocking on your door. I DO NOT advocate any form of child abuse, but DEFINITELY advocate discipline! Not beating and bruising, but swat or two on the bottom does work wonders! Case in point - when my kids were age 4, 5 & 7, I made the mistake of taking them to the mall during Christmas holidays. I had one store to go to to pick up one item and thought there would no problem. My kids usually (not always, of course) behaved just fine. Not this day!

It's like they grew extra arms and hands and thought they should reach for, grab, and mess with everything in the store! I was overwhelmed, thinking I should change their names to Stop, Quit and Don't! I noticed all the other kids in the store seemingly running rampant, and wondered how the other mothers could just ignore their kids? I thought, well, maybe I'll just try it. SO I called all three of mine over to me. I let them know that I expected them to behave, as I knew they knew how. I also told them that if they showed their behind in the store, when I got out of the store, I would show it for them. I turned them loose and proceeded to make my purchase.
Well, as you would guess, they all three showed their behind! I was so embarrassed, but it didn't seem to bother the other mom's doing their shopping. I didn't understand.

I made my purchases, called them and we walked out of the store. In the center of the mall, there are benches. I walked over to the closest bench, set down my bags and purse, and told all three of them to "Drop'em!" My 7 yr old daughter looked at me and questioned "Ma'am?" I told her " I said drop'em. Didn't I tell you that if you showed your butt in there I was going to show it for you? Now drop'em!" All 3 kids lowered their pants and lowered their heads. The mall was quite busy and people were everywhere! One swat on the bottom for each and it was done. This time, they were the embarrassed ones. They pulled up their pants, I gathered up my things, and we continued on our way. I had three perfectly well behaved children on my way out. Now, those children are 23, 21 and 20. To this day you can ask any of them what happens if you show your butt? Their reply - "Mama will show it for you!"
Was that child abuse? I don't think so. Was it discipline? Definitely. Did it work? Oh, yeah!

I think a lot of the problem is that kids of all ages simply have too much access to too many things they shouldn't, no access to the things they should, and parents that are allowing themselves to be too busy to even get to know their own kids, much less give them a proper raising.

[maddy]

Some people are very relaxed in their discipline with their kids. They also are wanting their kids to be their best friend. They let them watch the racey shows on TV, talk about sex in a joking way, walk around the house naked, all "free" style living, but they are showing their kids unhealthy boundries. I was shocked one day at a friends house, when she was letting her 3 yr old watch "Sex in the City" with them one night. WHAT?? She just didn't think he'd catch on to anything. Kids hear & see A LOT! Parents need to set boundries, and show their kids that they can be a friend to them, but parenting comes first.