In the Interest of D.S.

¶ 19. Because jurisdiction was properly vested in the youth court after transfer from the circuit court and because youth courts have original jurisdiction over minors charged with statutory rape, I must respectfully dissent.

¶ 20. For clarification, the facts are as follows: D.S. was arrested and charged in youth court with fondling on April 2, 2003. However, the youth court prosecutor never brought a delinquency petition on this charge. Nineteen months later, the district attorney brought another case against D.S. for the same incident in circuit court, but for sexual battery. The circuit…