http://www.nbc4i.com/news/4339567/detail.html?rss=col&psp=news
Woman Accused Of Raping 12-Year-Old Boy
Parents Don't Want White To Go To Jail
POSTED: 5:45 pm EST April 1, 2005
UPDATED: 6:05 pm EST April 1, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Franklin County mother has been accused of an inappropriate relationship with a 12-year-old boy, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported.
Maria White
If convicted on all 16 charges, Maria Rose White, 27, could spend the rest of her life in prison. But the parents of the boy said they don't think she should be jailed, Burton reported.
White is accused of having sex with the boy who lived in her south-side neighborhood.
"He said, 'Mom, all those rumors are true,' " the alleged victim's mother said. "Rumors they were having sex."
The parents of the boy never knew until White called police to say the boy was harassing her, Burton reported.
"It hurt us, shocked to think she would do something like this," the alleged victim's father said. "She was always friendly, helping with homework."
According to the indictment, White had sex with the boy for nine months. She was indicted on rape charges because the boy was just 12 years old. Under Ohio law, the charge is unlawful sexual conduct if the alleged victim is 13 and rape before the age of 13.
"It's fairly unusual, I would say rare, to have an adult female charged with sexual conduct with a minor male," Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
"He said, 'I'm in love with her,' " the alleged victim's mother said.
She said she had to explain to her son that the alleged relationship was against the law, Burton reported.
Despite what happened, the parents said they do not think White should go to jail.
"She's got a family," the alleged victim's father said. "She's not a bad person."
The parents said they didn't know at the time, but when the alleged relationship started, their son started acting out, skipping school and staying away from home for long periods of time.
The parents said they hope their story helps others.
White posted bond and was released from jail.
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