Miami Judge Frees 12-Year-Old Who Allegedly Stuffed Rocks in Rape Victim's Mouth, Opts for House Arrest Instead of JailIn a decision that's sparking outrage across Miami, Judge Richard Hersch has released 12-year-old Jusiah Jones on strict house arrest after he was charged as an adult for his role in the brutal June 2025 gang rape of a 12-year-old girl in Overtown.
According to police and court testimony, Jones helped pin the victim down while 13-year-old Nelson Nunez raped her for nearly 30 minutes at a community garden.
When the girl screamed in pain and begged them to stop, Jones allegedly shoved rocks into her mouth to silence her cries.
The judge kept Nunez locked up without bond ahead of trial, recognizing him as the primary assailant. Another suspect, 15-year-old Xavier Tyson, is already out of custody pending his own hearing.
Jones, described by his defense as acting under "duress" from the older boys and showing remorse, will now wear an ankle monitor, stay away from the victim, and avoid social media while confined at home.
His mother promised to supervise him.
This comes after the boys were initially arrested on juvenile charges but later hit with adult filings by a grand jury—yet one walks free on lockdown while the victim still lives with the trauma of being held down and brutalized by kids barely older than she is.
Where is the justice when a child predator gets house arrest for helping gag his victim during a half-hour assault?
Families in Miami deserve better than soft rulings that put kids like this back on the streets with a bracelet instead of bars.
