16-year-old from Bel Air will be tried as an adult for sexual assault

According to Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services, the age of majority in Maryland is 18. This means that “… a person eighteen years of age or more is an adult for all purposes whatsoever and has the same legal capacity, rights, powers, privileges, duties, liabilities, and responsibilities … and the ‘age of majority’ is hereby declared to be eighteen years.”

It was recently reported that a 16-year-old boy from Bel Air will be tried as an adult for an alleged sexual assault against a teenage girl. Because he has been charged as an adult, he is facing life in prison if convicted of the criminal charges against him.

The incident that led to the criminal charges began with a house party. It was supposed to be a small gathering, according to the female teenager, but was larger than she expected. She claims that she left the main area and was attacked from behind by the defendant, who threw her to the ground and threatened her with a cigarette lighter.

The teenage girl claims that he then sexually assaulted her with what could have been either a folded knife, or a body part.

The 16-year-old defendant has no previous encounters with the law other than a skateboarding violation. At this point it appears as though the incident may be one person’s testimony against the other person’s.

The 16-year-old has been charged with first-degree sex offense, as well as second-, third- and fourth-degree sexual offenses, first- and second-degree assault in addition to an attempted perverted practice charge. He was last reported as being held without bail.

A conviction such as this at such a young age could change the boy’s life forever. It should be remembered that everyone is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Bel Air boy, 16, charged with sexually assaulting girl,” Bryna Zumer, Nov. 28, 2012

• At our Baltimore law firm we represent individuals who have been charged with violent crimes including sexual assault such as the criminal charges mentioned in this posting.