Teen Mother Age 13 Ruled Sex Offender by Utah Court of Appeals

The Utah Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court judge's refusal to dismiss a sexual abuse allegation in a delinquency petition against a 13-year-old Ogden, Utah girl who became pregnant by her 12-year-old boyfriend. The appeals court on Friday ruled “with some reluctance” that the law's "rigorous protections" for younger minors include protecting them from each other.  The decision leaves the teens in the position of each being both a victim and a perpetrator in the same offense. Source:  AP, Daily Herald, heraldextra.com. For the complete story, please click here (last visited January 4, 2006, reo).  To read the decision by the Utah Court of Appeals in the case of Z.C. v. State of Utah, filed December 30, 2005, please click here (last visited January 4, 2006, reo).