Three Boys Charged as Adults for Sexual Assault
Three boys, ages 12, 13, and 15, have been arrested and indicted in connection with the alleged assault of a 12 year old girl at a community garden in Miami, according to police and court records. Investigators say the incident occurred on June 18, 2025, as the girl was walking home from a friend’s house in the Overtown neighborhood. Authorities allege that one of the suspects approached the girl and forced her into the garden property, where the other two joined him. Police reports state that the victim told detectives she was assaulted during the encounter. Investigators say the incident ended after the suspects heard the girl’s father calling her name, prompting them to leave the area. A witness later told police he saw what was happening but did not intervene out of concern for his own safety.
Indictment and Adult Court Proceedings
The three suspects were initially arrested on juvenile charges last year. In late February 2026, a grand jury in Miami-Dade County returned indictments, and prosecutors moved to try the boys as adults due to the seriousness of the allegations. Two of the suspects have been booked into the Metro West Detention Center and were ordered held without bond as the case proceeds. The third suspect is scheduled to appear in adult court. Court records list charges that include sexual battery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, aggravated battery, and lewd and lascivious conduct involving a minor.
Community Response
The alleged assault took place at a property operated by The Green Haven Project, which manages the community garden. In a public statement, the organization said it was deeply disturbed by the incident and is cooperating fully with law enforcement. The nonprofit also noted that security measures, including fencing, were already in place at the time. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity because of her age. Police confirmed that support services have been made available to the girl and her family. The case remains active as it moves through the adult criminal court system.
