Nation IN BRIEF / MINNESOTA : 3 Boys Arrested in Alleged Gang Rape

Three boys were arrested in St. Paul, Minn., in the alleged gang rape of an 8-year-old girl. Four other suspects were too young for prosecution. The three boys, ages 10, 11 and 13, were being held at a juvenile detention center on preliminary charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The boys must be charged within 48 hours. Because the boys are under 14, they cannot be tried as adults. If convicted, they could be confined in a juvenile institution until they turn 19. The other four boys accused in the rape are under 10, the minimum age for criminal prosecution in Minnesota. One of the four is the victim’s 9-year-old brother, who police say led the attack.