can a 10 year old be prosecuted?

Question

I posted this in family section, but think this is a better place. I have a friend who is flipping out about her 10 year old daughter- she thinks the daughter is a pedophile in the making. Apparently the daughter was caught "humping" her younger cousin (around toddler age). It was later found out that the 10 year old had been at several sleepovers at a friends where all the girls were watching late night adult movies on HBO. I don't have kids, but I know this girl in question and I really believe she was "acting out" something she probably saw on tv. My friend said her daughter was not threatening/holding down the other child, it looked like a game. This even furthers my belief that it was very misguided sexual exploration, and the girl did not really comprehend what she was doing. This girl is very sweet, not a bully, and she was not intimidating or threatening the other child by all acounts. My friend is so freaked she is thinking about turning in her own daughter for sexual

abuse! is it even possible for a 10 year old child to be prosecuted for that? I'm just worried about this girl, I've known her since she was a baby and I have never seen any type of disturbing behavior that would indicate she's a pedophile/sexual abuser. Any advice about this I can pass on?

Answer 1

Yes young children can be prosecuted, but it depends on your state. Young children who display sexualized behavior are often the victims of sexual abuse. Even being exposed to pornographic material at that young an age is not good parenting practices. If the mother hasn't exposed her than I would seriously get that child to a counselor. There's something not right going on in that chid's life.

Answer 2

Yes, a 10 year old could possibly be prosecuted if her mother turned her in.

I agree with along the lines of your thinking that this girl is acting out what she has seen on TV, but it the Mom turns her in and both the girl and the Mom need to get into counseling to deal with the matter instead of making it a public, criminal matter, that could ruin the girl's and the families life.

I certainly would not let her have anymore sleepover's at the child's house where she watched the late night HBO movie and would be having a talk with all parents that had girls at the sleepover, including the host parents.

As the authorities will have to investigate all options of where this young girl learned this behavior, not take it at face value that it was from seeing it on T.V. and will start interviewing all of the child's male relatives (including father, uncles, grandfathers or any brothers or cousins) and any other male contacts as potentially having sexually abused the girl.