An Augusta boy was hospitalized Thursday for a sexual assault he claims happened while visiting a male teen he met over a social app.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the sex crime since the incident allegedly happened in their jurisdiction.
The 16-year-old boy told authorities that he met the suspect through a social app online and they agreed to meet Wednesday at a location in Columbia County.
“He went and met the guy and they began kissing, and I guess the one party wanted to do more,” said sheriff’s Capt. Sharif Chochol. “He is alleging that he was essentially raped.”
The boy ended up at University Hospital on Thursday, where authorities were called. Investigators met with the teen’s father, who said his son had requested to go to the hospital after an assault.
The teen then requested to speak with investigators privately and his father left the room. The victim then revealed that the other teen had anally raped him.
An assault kit was completed by medical staff, and Capt. Chochol said the investigation is continuing.
The rape report comes as new statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice show the increasing frequency of technology in sex crimes against juveniles. In fact, a survey of juvenile victims of Internet-initiated sex crimes, the majority met the predator willingly face-to-face and 93% of those encounters had included sexual contact.
Also, the most common first encounter of a predator with an Internet-initiated sex crimes victim took place in an online chat room (76%), according to federal statistics. And 1 in 25 youths received an online sexual solicitation in which the solicitor tried to make offline contact.
If you’re a crime victim, here are some resources:
- National Center for Victims of Crime
By phone: (800) 394-2255. Toll-free helpline offers supportive counseling, practical information about crime and victimization, and referrals to local community resources, as well as skilled advocacy in the criminal justice and social service systems. - Darkness to Light
By phone: (866) 367-5444. Toll-free helpline for individuals living in the United States who need local information and resources about sexual abuse. - Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
By phone: (800) 656-4673. Toll-free National Sexual Assault Hotline.
Online: http://www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-online-hotline Instant-messaging format National Sexual Assault Hotline.
Both hotlines are free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and offer secure, anonymous, confidential crisis support for victims of sexual assault and their friends and families.
