Boy, 10, and Young Friends Beat Handicapped Immigrant Woman

Aug. 8, 2012— -- A mentally handicapped woman from Vietnam was battered by a group of young boys who invaded her Philadelphia home, beat her and robbed her.

A 10-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with the assault. Two younger children who allegedly took part in the attack on the woman cannot be charged under Pennsylvania state law because they are under age 10.

The boys broke into Minh Tran's house and beat her with sticks, rocks, and items from the home, including a potted plant they threw at her face, according to Philadelphia police Lt. Harold Lloyd.

Tran, 51, was found cowering in her backyard by neighbors after the attack.

"She said, 'I'm so scared. I'm so scared. The three boys came to attack me,'" Tran's landlord told ABC News affiliate WPVI. "And I said: 'What happened, Minh?' and she kneeled down and said please please protect me."

The boys made off with $20 from the woman's home.

The 10-year-old boy was taken into custody after his mother called police to turn him in.

Tran is an immigrant from Vietnam who had been targeted by the boys because of a mental disability, police said. She had been harassed by the same children leading up to the attack.

She was treated briefly at a hospital and released. Minh Tran, who does not speak English, could not be reached by ABC News.

The 10-year-old boy is charged with a battery of crimes, including aggravated assault, simple assault, conspiracy, criminal trespassing, theft, reckless endangering of another person, robbery and burglary. Because he is a juvenile, his identity is protected. He will go to trial on Aug. 22.

The other two children involved will be referred to the Department of Human Services, according to the district attorney's office.