WINDCREST -- Friday night Windcrest Police arrested three 19-year-old men after discovering the teens in a park with a girl under the age of 17.
Police said the girl made contact with the teens on Facebook, where she lied about her age, telling them she was at least 18. Police said the girl also provided the teens with her address and went voluntarily with the teens to Takas Park.
A Windcrest patrol officer driving by the park noticed the teens and the girl engaged in some sort of possible sexual activity. When the officer stopped to investigate, he discovered the girl was under 17; the legal age of consent in Texas. Police arrested the three teenage boys on charges of Online Solicitation of a Minor and Sexual Assault of a Child.
It is still unclear if the teenage boys knew the girl was under 17 at the time of the incident, however, police said under Texas law it is still a crime even if the girl intentionally deceived the teens about her age.
Rick Gipprich, of the San Antonio Rape Crisis Center, said the case really illustrates how dangerous the internet can be for both boys and girls.
"Although she may have lied about her age, or came across as someone who is older than she really is, you have to look at what these boys intent was as well with her," he said.
The Windcrest Police Department says it will continue to investigate the case and turn its findings over to the Bexar County District Attorney; it will then be up to the DA's office to decide if the case should move forward.
If the 19-year-old men are convicted of sexual assault of a child, each will have to register as a sex offender.
