[randog]

That's my question. What does race have to do with it?

Well, then, what does age have to do with it? The reporter felt compelled to give the ages of the victim and assailant for some reason.

[Arpege92]

Good point! If the rapest is white, then the media would have included race when describeing this animal. "White boy sentenced on rape charges"!

this boy needs to be punished no matter what color he is!

[MightyMouseToSaveThe Day]

Age was important to this story as it was originally reported (not in this article, though), because his defense attorneys tried to make it sound like he was a mere 12yo CHILD of child-like proportions and how could he have possibly overpowered a full sized 46 yo woman.

Well, this 'child' was adult size, hefty weight, and he easily towered over this petite older woman. That's what age had to do with this story--it formed the core of the defense. As you can see, it didn't work once the jury got a gander on this full grown rapist.