Fake Rape Prank Call Leads To Charges For Stafford Children: Police

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — Two children from Stafford County called 911 on Wednesday and falsely reported a rape, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office said. There was no actual rape, and the children now face criminal charges.

In the report posted to Facebook, authorities did not identify the suspects by age or gender. In an email to Patch, the sheriff's said the suspects were teenage boys.

Both teens are charged with one count of falsely summoning law enforcement.

The 911 call came in around 4 p.m. on Wednesday. A dispatcher told deputies that a caller reported a rape in the Widewater Village neighborhood. The caller said there was "a “female yelling ‘I’m being raped’” before hanging up, according to the police report.

"Despite multiple attempts to locate a victim, a suspect, or any signs of an incident, deputies were unsuccessful," the sheriff's office said in a report. "Communications Officers were able to gather more information that the incident may be in the Hidden Valley Mobile Home Community."

In Hidden Valley, deputies said they found the two teens. One of the teens had the phone the made the 911 call, authorities said.

The teens said they were "joking around," according to the police report. Deputies said they told the teenagers about the seriousness of a rape allegation and the 911 system.

"We ask parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of providing false statements to law enforcement," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook. "Not only is it illegal, but important resources are taken away from those who need it. Please make sure they understand to only contact law enforcement for emergencies."

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center can provide information about reporting and coping with sexual abuse. Their website also features training materials and tips to prevent sexual abuse. The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network operates a 24/7 hotline for victims of sexual assault. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-656-4673.