COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Juvenile Court officials say offenses of children raping other children are epidemic in Putnam County.

In three current cases, a 16-year-old boy is charged with two counts of rape of a child under 13, a 14-year-old boy is charged with rape of a child under 13, and a 17-year-old is charged with rape of a child under 13.

Juvenile Court Judge John Hudson said offenders seem to be getting younger all the time.

He told the Cookeville Herald-Citizen that he blames Internet access, "and the fact that the traditional family structure of the previous generations doesn't seem to exist any more."

Juvenile Court administrator Greg Bowman said Internet access and cable TV access expose children to new sights and activities.

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Information from: Cookeville Herald-Citizen, http://www.herald-citizen.com/

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