Haskell teen charged with rape of a 4 year old girl

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- A 15-year-old Haskell boy faces a first-degree rape count in connection with an attack on a 4-year-old girl.<br/><br/>The teenager is being held without bail in the Muskogee County

Thursday, April 28th 2005, 7:01 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) -- A 15-year-old Haskell boy faces a first-degree rape count in connection with an attack on a 4-year-old girl.

The teenager is being held without bail in the Muskogee County jail, officials said Wednesday.

He is accused of attacking the toddler Friday at her Haskell home, said David Pierce, first assistant district attorney for Muskogee County.

The child's mother told police Friday that she had caught the boy attempting to have sex with the child, Pierce said.

The teen was a family friend and frequent visitor to the home, the prosecutor said. The teenager was charged as a youthful offender.

The Youthful Offender Act provides an option for defendants who are candidates for rehabilitation but have committed serious crimes. It allows such defendants to stay in the juvenile system until age 20.

Defendants who commit new offenses or do not comply with the terms of their treatment can be "bridged" into the adult prison system. A 10-year sentence is the maximum allowed on any charge, including murder, if a youthful offender is transferred to an adult prison.