13-year-old Accused of Raping 71-year-old Woman

By Jackelyn Barnard First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A 13-year-old boy sat patiently waiting to stand before a Duval County Judge on charges of rape and attempted armed robbery.

A young boy accused of committing some serious adult crimes, so serious, Judge Henry Davis had to double check his age.

"This boy is thirteen?", asked the judge.

Prosecutors say the case is unusual because they are dealing with someone so young. "It's the first case of this nature that I've dealt with," says Assistant State Attorney Pam Johnson.

According to police, that 13-year-old boy, Tanzal Bryant, stopped by a business on East Ninth Street around noon on May 15, 2006.

We are not identifying the business because it would identify the victim.

According to the police report, a 71-year-old woman was at work. Police say Bryant stopped by to ask for some empty boxes. The woman told the boy she didn't have any around.

Minutes later, police say Bryant came back to the business, this time armed with a knife.

The victim told police Bryant pushed his way inside demanding money, forced her to the floor and then took off her pants and underwear.

"It was a 71-year-old victim and he did have a knife and he did stab her in the process of raping her," says Johnson.

According to the police report, the boy pulled a wire from the phone out of the wall, and pulled a large bookcase on top of the woman and then left.

Police also say the boy attempted to take the victim's car.

Bryant has been charged as an adult and, if convicted, faces from eleven years to life in prison.

Because Bryant is so young prosecutors had to get an indictment before Bryant could make a plea before a judge. Bryant has pleaded not guilty.

©2010 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.