I used to volunteer for a sexual assault center crisis line locally. I met with survivors with another advocate at times as well, and the view is that anyone who comes for help and services is a survivor. There have been cases at this center where perps reached out for help. It has happened, and it was...wow. Eye opening.
My view is that This boy is still a victim in the sense that he learned this from someone. Rare is the child who acts out with no prior history of any abuse-and often times they are abused even if they don't tell anyone that they have been abused, meaning people think there is no prior history but there actually is. So the stories that you hear about a kid who has no history of SA is acting out-not necessarily. It is not impossible but more likely it just hasn't been reported to someone or talked about and they are keeping it to themselves. There is also a gang mentality when more than one person is involved, and that is one area where you will see kids involved who truly have no history.
There is a huge huge psychology (abnormal psychology) behind perping, and NO, they can't always make the connection that they need to choose to stop hurting, that part of them is way too damaged-that is what can make many of them dangerous to the public. No, the past and the extreme psychological damage is not easy to overcome-if it was we wouldn't have many who re-offend. This is partially the reason I favor chemical castration and very intense monitoring-but that's another thread. You can be a victim and be very messed up but that is NOT NOT NOT to excuse any actions or a "poor him" attitude. Victims who harm still need consequences....heavy ones. My whole point with writing this is to explain reasons why things may have happened because that is how I am and I know some others on here are this way...I want to know WHY things happen and how brains tick. To try to prevent the past from happening in the future means trying to understand it...even if it is difficult.
Regardless of the past he still needs to face heavy consequences and I am sure that he will and I am glad for that! I am not sure he thought this all up himself though (the filming). It seems there is an adult involved in some way behind those cameras. If he has already been groomed and "turned" into a predator, then it's very easy for an adult predator to use him to harm someone else for someone's enjoyment via video or webcam. It is possible that he did all on his own....but it really seems like this is done for someone remotely....maybe in person, I can't tell (no I didn't view stills....I am not that strong). I hope we may get some more info....but of course we may not. I am very happy for the small child survivor....beyond happy.....and I am happy that this older child is stopped.