Read moreMother of teen accused of raping jogger in North Chattanooga says ‘He’s a good child’
Chattanooga police Detective Lucas Fuller, left, answers questions from attorney Jason Fisher during a transfer hearing for a 17-year-old boy who allegedly sexually assaulted a man in North Chattanooga.The 17-year-old boy who was charged with the aggravated rape of a 69-year-old man in North Chattanooga will be transferred to the Joe Johnson Mental Health Center for evaluation on the orders of a judge.
Until then, the case will stay in Hamilton County Juvenile Court.
The 5-foot, 8-inch youth is charged with an attack on Sept. 29 that left police perplexed and runners across the city nervous, because the route on Mississippi Avenue where the alleged crime took place is a popular route for joggers.
In court on Thursday, the defendant’s parents sat in the room as the victim testified against their son.
At a hearing in early October, the youth’s mother said her son was “a good child.”
“I know he didn’t do it,” his mother said then, shaking her head. “That’s not what type of child I got.”
On Thursday the boy’s father, sitting behind his son, shook his head while the victim talked about the attack.
The victim testified that his attacker told him to “have a sweet day” after following him, shoving him down, overpowering him and raping him twice.
The Times Free Press does not publish the names of victims of sexual crimes, nor does it publish the names of minors accused of a crime unless they are charged as an adult.