MPD Investigating Sexual Assualt With 11 Year Old Victim
By: Stephanie Sobic
Updated: July 26, 2010
The Midland Police Department is investigating a sexual assault case involving a 19 year old and an 11 year old victim. Turns out, the crime happened all because of a game.
Hundreds of questions come to mind when you hear about this sexual case. Why are 19 year olds hanging out with 11 year olds? Not to mention, this wasn't an organized activity, like summer camp. This was a group of older teens hanging out with minors playing a game of truth or dare and the dare turned into a crime.
The movies make truth or dare seem fun and innocent, but last week's game in Midland was neither.
"At some point in this game, this 11 year old was dared to perform a sex act on a 19 year old, which that constitutes a sexual act with a child," explains Sgt. David Garcia with the Midland Police Department.
The 11 year old victim told her grandmother what happened three days after the truth or dare game.
"Embarrassment or fear of getting in trouble, who knows what’s going on in the mind of an 11 year old," says Sgt. Garcia.
Or maybe the victim at first didn't understand that what occurred was a crime?
"Obviously a lot of times, kids of this age are not mature enough to make these types of decisions and when you have older kids involved and you have peer pressure involved that's just a recipe for a disaster," says Garcia.
That's why the law protects kids under the age of 16. Even though, the victim gave a form of consent by doing the dare.
"Even if a kid under 16 gives consent to an older person or young adult the law says they can't give consent, even though they did," says Garcia.
These types of cases are sensitive, especially to the victim and the victim's family and that's why police say their main focus is not to compromise the investigation at all. In fact, according to Sgt Garcia, because the victim is only 11, a child specialist was called in to talk with victim as this investigation continues.
This case is far from over and the Police Department still has a lot of follow up to do. Again, that 19 year old could be charged with felony sexual assault of a child, depending on what police learn during their investigation.
