Cops probing 3 cases of sexual crimes against minors in Sint Maarten

The Police Force of Sint Maarten and the Prosecutor’s Office Sint Maarten are handing three cases of suspected sexual offences committed against children. Police have made arrests related to all three instances.
In one case, a man, 30, is suspected of impregnating a 13-year-old girl and is also a suspect in statutory rape of another 13-year-old girl.
In another case, a man in his 40s was caught on camera performing a sexual act on a 6-year-old child. In this case, the child's mother was arrested too for conspiracy to the act and distributing the video.
The Police Force notes the following:
• Having sex with a minor aged 12 to 16 carries a maximum of 12 years imprisonment. Whether the sex is consensual is not relevant since a child or little age is not (always) deemed able to make well informed and balanced choices about sex. Assuming someone is over 16 doesn’t forgive the perpetrator either.
• Having sex with a person younger than 12 years carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
• Rape also carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
• Distributing child pornography carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.
• Being present in a situation where there are sexual acts with a person younger than 18 carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison.
• The maximum sentences in all these instances are raised by a third if the perpetrator is responsible for the child as a caregiver.

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