10-year-old boy charged with sex offenses for 'simulating rape' over classmate's clothing during a game of tag
MARBURY, MARYLAND: A 10-year-old boy has been charged with fourth-degree sex offenses and second-degree assault following a game of tag in which both boys and girls of fourth grade were involved, the Charles County Sheriff's Office has confirmed.
The charges stem from the incident that unfolded at the Gale-Bailey Elementary School in Marbury on October 29 that involved several students playing playing the game, reported NBC Washington.
During the game, one of the boys allegedly said sexually inappropriate things and made sexually inappropriate movements towards girls, according to the Charles County Public Schools. The school system said one of the boys wrapped his arms around a girl. The girls subsequently reported the behavior to a teacher, following which both the boys and girls present at the time made statements about it.
The Gale-Bailey Elementary school resource officer and school staff opened an investigation into the incident on October 30, and the principal then disciplined the students based on their level of involvement as per the school system's code of conduct. The 10-year-old boy who made physical contact with the girl was criminally charged, but not arrested.
Fox5 reported that some parents believed that proper measures had not been taken to alert them of the incident, with the victim's parents slamming the school and stating it was "demeaning" to the girls involved to call it a "game of tag."
"The Charles County school system statement completely misrepresents what occurred to our daughters at Gale-Bailey Elementary school," they said. "On October 30, our three daughters were repeatedly threatened at recess by a group of boys who threatened to attack and rape them."
The parents said the girls complained to a group of teachers who were sitting at a table looking at their phones, but that no action was taken and that they were just advised to "stay away from the boys."
"Within ten minutes, the girls were attacked," the statement said. "One girl was tied up and was attacked as the boy simulated rape over her clothing. The girls were then placed near their attackers on the bus ride home that night and in the school building that day."
"The school failed to notify the parents or the school community," it continued. "No action was taken until a parent called a school resource officer. This has been extremely traumatizing for these girls. One girl does not sleep, cries constantly and is in counseling."
"The Charles County school system has attempted to cover this up from the beginning. Calling this a 'game of tag' is completely false and demeaning to our girls. It is clear they do not take seriously the safety of these girls. The school system needs to take action to remove the leadership, teachers, and students who were involved in this."