VALPARAISO | Prosecutors opted Monday to exercise their right to charge a 16-year-old Valparaiso girl as an adult on accusations of handcuffing, confining for hours and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy last week.

April Kuchta, of the 300 block of Roseland Terrace, was charged with felony counts of criminal deviate conduct, criminal confinement, intimidation and sexual battery, as well as a misdemeanor battery charge.

The seriousness of the first two offenses provide the option for adult charges without the more typical waiver process, said Deputy Prosecutor Tim Haraminac.

Kuchta was transferred Monday from juvenile detention to the Porter County Jail.

The Times policy is to withhold the names of criminal suspects younger than 18, unless waived to adult court.

A 14-year-old girl, who also was charged with the offense, admitted in juvenile court Monday to battery and confinement charges, as well as to charges from earlier unrelated incidents.

The girl, who wept during her hearing, told the court she used a fake knife and denied stabbing the boy. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 9.