>I believe the two boys are being charged with rape because they were under 18 which is unlawful.
Not necessarily. The ‘age of consent’ here in New Mexico was 14, last time I checked; a holdover from the times when it was a territory (and survival-rates weren’t particularly high), but not [strictly speaking] wrong.
[Also,] In many cultures the female is considered to be of childbearing age after her first period while the male reaches manhood at 12 or 13 [or perhaps some ritual/task].
this happened in MA if age wasn’t the issue i doubt they would be able to charge