Maryland Teen Charged With Neighbor’s Rape

In rape cases, the suspect is usually an adult. However, in a recent case in Maryland, the suspect was a 15-year-old boy. He is being tried as an adult for several charges, including first-degree rape, first-degree assault, and home invasion.

The incident occurred on the evening of April 29 on First Street in Rockville. A woman had just gotten home and was putting groceries away when her 15-year-old neighbor came up from behind her and grabbed her neck. He then pulled her into a bedroom, pulled out a knife, and proceeded to rape her.

The boy then fled the home. Once he left, the victim went to her car and called 911. Police investigated and found surveillance video of the boy leaving the woman’s home and entering his home through a back door.

A crime scene unit found the suspect’s fingerprints in the victim’s home and were able to identify the boy as the suspect. Police issued a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into police custody the following afternoon. The teen admitted his guilt. He was taken to the central processing unit, where he is currently being held without bond.

Rape Charges in Maryland

The boy in this case is being charged with first-degree rape, which is the most serious charge. This involves not only having sex with someone without their consent, but also using force and threat, such as a weapon. The teen in this case used a knife to scare the victim.

In Maryland, all rape charges are felonies. First-degree rape can come with especially strict penalties, including life in prison if the victim is a child under the age of 13. In some cases, there are minimum mandatory sentences of 25 years.

Second-degree rape is another serious crime. The main difference is that it does not involve a weapon, but it does require use of force or the threat of force. A person may also face a charge of second-degree rape if the defendant engaged in sexual activity with a mentally defective or physically helpless person. Second-degree rape carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, but there could be a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 15 years in some cases.

A third-degree sexual offense may or may not involve intercourse. It involves minors who are 14 or 15 years old and adults over the age of 21. A conviction carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Fourth-degree sexual offenses are limited charges against an adult in a position of authority who has sexual intercourse with a minor, such as a student, who is 16 or 17 years old. This offense carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Sex crimes, including rape, are serious charges. The penalties are harsh and can include more than 20 years in prison.

Being accused or convicted of a sex crime can be a humiliating experience. Get the help you need from the Columbia sex crimes attorneys at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. We can help you get the best outcome possible. Fill out the online form or call (410) 774-5987 to schedule a consultation today. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/05/01/teenager-charged-with-home-invasion-and-rape-in-montgomery-county/