Mentally Challenged Teen Accused of Rape

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A 17-year-old mentally challenged boy has been in the custody of the Shelby County Juvenile Court for 23 days, and counting. He's accused of raping a four-year-old girl. But his mother says he's innocent. She says he's the real victim of a troubled juvenile system.

17-year-old Ronald Sanders had a five-day window of opportunity after his juvenile detention hearing to essentially appeal the decision that keeps him locked-up. That has passed. He will now be detained until this case is over, regardless of his guilt or innocence. His mother says she never knew that. But that was just one of the road blocks her mentally challenged son now faces.

Attorney John Stewart accepted this case pro bono.

"The state has shown no evidence that he raped this girl," Stewart said.

Sanders says the woman making these accusations, used to be a close friend. That's until news of an alleged sexual relationship between the woman and Ronald surfaced.

"I think she threw it out because she had sex with my son," Sanders said.

What hurts Sanders, is the type of allegation. Sanders said she confided in the woman about a child rape charge her son faced three years ago in Kentucky.

"He was accused and he was locked up for 85 days for something he didn't do," Sanders said.

Sanders says Ronald was cleared of any wrong-doing. The charges were dismissed. But she and her attorney believe, the woman didn't forget the information and that's what's keeping her son locked-up.

"That has nothing to do with the allegations against my client right now," Stewart said.

As for Ronald's special medical needs, a Juvenile Court spokesperson says they're being met. But Nicole Sanders says that only happened recently and because of her persistence. She says, she is dropping off his prescription medication and making his doctor appointments.

Sanders believes her son is the ultimate victim. Her next battle is pressing charges against the woman, a former friend, who was allegedly having sex with her underage, mentally challenged son.

"I'm a mother and I'm going to fight because I know he didn't do this," Sanders said.

I did reach out to the woman making these allegations that Ronald Sanders raped her 4-year-old daughter, but she did not come to door. Sanders' attorney says he has been in touch with the Reverend Al Sharpton's office on this case. Ronald Sanders will have his next juvenile hearing next Wednesday.