Sexual assault charge filed against boy, 12

Kim Smith

Monday, Aug. 14, 2000 | 11:35 a.m.

The Clark County district attorney's office has filed two criminal charges against a 12-year-old Las Vegas boy accused of sexually assaulting his cellmate at the county's juvenile detention center.

Deputy District Attorney Frank Ponticello said that after reviewing the evidence in the case he filed one count of sexual assault of a minor under 14 and one count of lewdness with a minor under 14 in connection with the incident over the weekend of Aug. 5-6.

The alleged victim in the case, an 11-year-old boy, was booked into the detention center on nine counts of arson and burglary for a series of fires that took place Aug. 2.

A few days later, detention officials heard the boy crying out and ran to his cell.

The 11-year-old has subsequently been charged with six counts of arson involving a Peter Piper Pizza restaurant, MacFrugal's Bargain Close-out store, Kmart, Albertson's grocery store, Target and an Isuzu Trooper.

The 12-year-old had been booked into the detention center on marijuana and burglary charges.

Both boys are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.