Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012

LINCOLN COUNTY, Ga. -- Investigators are looking into a sexual assault that involves students from Lincoln County Middle School.

The victim told the assistant principal that she was forced to have sex with 13-year-old boys on Sept. 15 along Firetower Road.

The juveniles accused in the assault were taken to the Augusta Youth Development Campus on Wednesday and have been charged with aggravated sodomy. Both suspects in this case are juveniles, so their names have not been released.

Lincoln County Sheriff Gerald Lawson says the investigation is being handled by the assistant district attorney of the Toombs Judicial Circuit. He says the case is being handled carefully, but appropriate measures will be taken if the boys are found guilty.

"Even though they've been charged in a juvenile complaint, they haven't been found guilty. I just ask the public, you know, and stuff, let's let the justice system work," Lawson said.

Lawson says this is the first case he has seen in his time as sheriff involving children this young.

One community member, who preferred to go unnamed, defended one of the suspects.

"I feel that you should get both sides of the story instead of just one side because I know one of the guys, and he is not a threat to the community."

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