On Thursday, Florida police charged three juvenile boys with last year’s violent sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.
The three teens — ages 12, 13, and 15 — were charged as adults for the June 2025 assault at a community garden in Miami. The victim said the assault occurred after the 13-year-old grabbed her and took her to a couch in the garden as the two other suspects and a witness followed, according to WTVJ.
The youngest suspect allegedly stuffed rocks into the victim’s mouth to quell her screams. Still, the victim’s father heard her screams and called out to her — scaring off the three suspects, WVTJ reported.
The three boys were arrested a day after the assault, though they are only now being charged as adults.
The victim said the witness did not participate in the attack. The witness told police he did not intervene because he feared getting beaten up by the trio.
“It’s not like it’s people we didn’t know! They knew me, and I knew them. There were times when I would come home from work, and they would all be outside sitting on the porch. I don’t know what happened that night,” the victim’s mother told WSVN, referring to her daughter’s alleged attackers.
The 12-year-old is charged with aggravated battery and false imprisonment, while the 13-year-old was charged with sexual battery on a minor by a minor and kidnapping. The 15-year-old was charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.
WSVN reported that the two younger victims remain jailed without bond. They are due back in court on Monday.
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[Featured image: Miami police]