Girl, 13, admits sex with 7 wasn’t forced
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Chicago Sun Times Staff Reporter
A 13-year-old girl who told Zion police she was raped by seven boys in an apartment complex laundry room last month has recanted her original statement that she was forced to engage in the sexual activity.
Authorities are only pursuing charges against the eldest boy involved, who at 17 can be prosecuted as an adult for having sexual contact with a minor, Zion Police Chief Doug Malcolm said in a statement.
No other charges will be filed. The youngest boy linked to the April 19 incident in the 2600 block of Gabriel Avenue is 12.
The boys were interviewed separately and described in detail the consensual sexual acts and denied any use of force, police said. Physical evidence also showed there was no coercion, according to Malcolm.
"The evidence of this case points to inappropriate sexual conduct between minors but does not rise to the level of criminal with the exception of the involvement of the 17-year-old," Malcolm said.
All of the children have been asked to undergo counseling. The girl is receiving psychiatric counseling and had been going to sessions before the incident, Malcolm’s statement said.
The girl initially told police she was at the Zion-Benton Public Library when one of the boys started talking to her. She said another boy grabbed her cell phone when she tried to use it outside the library. The girl said she knew neither boy.
The girl told authorities she followed the boys to the apartment complex’s basement so she could get her cell phone back. There, she was attacked by all seven boys, the girl first told police.