Hearing held for boys charged as adults in alleged rape of 12-year-old girl in Overtown

Father of Jusiah Jones, 12, calls allegations against his son ‘bogus’

Father calls charges against his son 'bogus' in alleged rape of girl, 12, in Overtown A father spoke to Local 10 News after his son was one of three boys charged as an adult in the Overtown rape case of a 12-year-old girl

MIAMI — The mother of 12-year-old Jusiah Jones shouted outside of a court hearing Monday after her son, along with two other boys, were recently charged as adults in a case involving the rape of a 12-year-old girl.

“It’s not true. He’s only f------ 12,” she said.

The victim’s mother told Local 10 this past weekend in a phone interview that she wants justice for her daughter.

“I don’t care if they get 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years, 100 years, I’m gonna always feel like it’s not enough,” she said.

Miami police said the girl was leaving a friend’s home when she encountered the boys near a community garden in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood.

Investigators allege 13-year-old Nelson Nunez raped her while 12-year-old Jones and Xavier Tyson, who was 14 at the time, restrained her. Authorities said Jones put rocks in the girl’s mouth to stop her from screaming.

All three boys are being charged as adults.

An arrest report stated that the sexual assault lasted about 30 minutes and ended only when the victim’s father called her name.

In court Monday, attorneys for Jones and Nunez entered not guilty pleas, requested jury trials, and invoked discovery, requiring prosecutors to turn over all evidence. They also argued that Jones and Nunez should not be held in an adult jail.

“At this point, you have a 13-year-old kid sitting in jail. (My co-counsil and I) will both be fighting hard to get our clients out of jail,” said Bijan Sebastian Parwaresch, Nunez’s attorney.

Jones’ father, Mervin Jones, said the allegations against his son are false.

“A young Black man that was visiting Miami — it was with the wrong two kids, a 15 and a 14-year-old. My son is 12 years old and has a father that takes care of him,” he said. “These allegations are bogus.”

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About The Author
Isabella Martin

Isabella Martin

Isabella Martin joined the reporting team at WPLG in July 2025.