NY state police arrest 7-year-old boy on rape charges

Authorities arrested a 7-year-old New York boy on Friday and charged him with rape, according to reports.

What are the details?

According to a Tuesday report from WWNY-TV, New York state police officers arrested the unnamed 7-year-old boy from Brasher Falls, New York, in connection with an "incident that happened on Thanksgiving."

Authorities charged the child with third-degree rape. Following his arrest, he was released and will be tried in Family Court, according to the report.

Queens attorney Anthony Martone — who is not confirmed to represent the child or his family — told the outlet that the entire case is "absurd."

"Instinctually, it shouldn't happen that a 7-year-old — I don't think you even could really realize what you're doing at seven years old," he said. "They'd have to prove he actually physically committed this act, which, to me, it almost seems to be an impossibility."

What else?

Under current New York state law, the minimum age of prosecution is seven years old; however, lawmakers are currently working to pass a bill to raise the minimum age of juvenile delinquency charges to 12 years old.

According to the law, beginning at the age of seven, children can be brought to court if they are accused of having committed a crime.

"Youth who are accused of committing crimes fall into three categories: Juvenile Delinquent, Juvenile Offender, and Adolescent Offender," the court system states.

Further:

A Juvenile Delinquent is a child over 7, but under 18 years of age (effective 10/1/19), who commits an act that would be a crime if it had been committed by an adult. Juvenile offenders, who are 13, 14, and 15 years of age, are not considered Juvenile Delinquents. Cases involving Juvenile Delinquents are handled in Family Court. Juvenile Delinquents do not go to adult jails. Instead, the court decides if they need supervision, treatment or placement through the local department of social services or the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Juvenile Delinquents do not have criminal records. Family Court proceedings are confidential and in some instances the cases can be sealed.