The consequences for teenagers that break the law in Virginia can be severe depending on the crime. Juvenile crime involving sexual assault is especially serious. While many cases of sexual assault involve a male assaulting a female, there are cases where a female is accused of assaulting another female. Multiple Virginia teenage girls were recently charged with various sexual assault charges after an incident involving other teen girls. Details of the incident have not been disclosed yet.
One 17-year-old girl from Franklin was arrested last month and is facing various sex offenses including animate sexual penetration, attempted animate object sexual penetration, sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery. The court has also petitioned five other girls, ranging from 14 to 17 years in age. Their charges vary, but all five of the girls have been released on summons. The superintendent of the public schools in that area told a local newspaper that they followed appropriate disciplinary procedures when dealing with the girls.
Sexual assault charges can cover a variety of crimes from attempted rape to sexual battery. Current sexual assault laws are intended to handle any type of nonconsensual sexual activity regardless of the age and gender of the parties involved.
Because sexual assault charges are so serious, young people accused of such crimes should have a strong defense prepared. A defendant who can prove actual innocence or consent may be able to avoid serious consequences. Actual innocence can be argued by showing that the defendant was misidentified by the victim or that the defendant was not in the area when the incident occurred. Mental incapacity or insanity may also work as a defense in rare cases.
Source: WAVY, “Teen girls charged in sexual assault,” Rachel West and Erin Kelly, Nov. 1, 2013
