Official: Female sex offenders not the norm

4-14-2011 Indiana:

VALPARAISO | Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Polarek said it is still unusual to see girls accused of carrying out the violent type of sexual offense that surfaced this week in Valparaiso.

What has become more common is for underage girls to unwittingly cast themselves in the role of perpetrator by sending out nude photos of themselves via their cell phones, said Polarek, who handles most of the sex crimes for the prosecutor's office.

Portage authorities reported Wednesday a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl sent out nude photos of themselves to boys and everyone involved faces legal consequences.

Polarek said girls who put themselves in this type of situation are not considered victims, but rather face the potential of being charged along with those possessing the illegal images.

Each case is addressed according to its circumstances, yet the potential impact is the same.

"Once that image is taken and you send it, you have no control over where it goes," she said.

Much more unusual, she said, are the allegations this week a 16-year-old girl and 14-year-old girl from Valparaiso bound and sexually battered a 17-year-old boy, who has special needs.

Polarek said when females are accused of these types of offenses, they and their victims are handled the same as if a male is charged.

According to Porter County's sex offender registry online, just four of the 161 sex offenders registered as living in the county are females. ..Source.. Bob Karasda