"The 15-year-old showed no emotion, no concern, no remorse.''
Teens Charged With Molesting Sister
MIAMI (AP) -- Two teen-age brothers were charged with sexually molesting their
8-year-old half sister after claiming they got the idea from watching an
episode on incest on ``The Jerry Springer Show.''
The boys, ages 13 and 15, were arrested Dec. 11 by police in nearby Hollywood
and charged with sexual battery and lewd and lascivious acts. Police said the
older boy confessed to having intercourse with the girl.
``This 15-year-old showed no emotion, he showed no concern, he showed no
remorse,'' Detective Curt Navarro said Wednesday.
Navarro said he asked the older boy, ``How did you learn this?'' The teen
responded that he saw a Springer show on incest, the detective said.
The girl was crying when she recently told a teacher about the alleged abuse,
and the school notified police. The victim said the abuse had been going on
for a while and would occur after her mother left for work, police said.
The girl was assaulted on at least 10 separate occasions, according to a
police report. She is back home with her mother and receiving counseling.
Linda Shafran, a publicist for the Springer show, said she could not recall
any show on the topic of incest.
``We have never had a show that is even remotely close to this situation, and
unfortunately there are situations in the world for which we are blamed,'' she
said.
In a lawsuit filed last year in Connecticut, a 16-year-old boy claimed the
show inspired a fight that left him with a broken jaw and other injuries.
Last May, four girls in New York City were suspended after beating their
sixth-grade teacher for refusing to turn on the show on a classroom
television.
Prosecutors will decide whether the 15-year-old boy will be charged as an
adult. His younger brother is charged as a juvenile.
