The New Jersey Supreme Court held Tuesday that a confession to a sex offense given by a 13-year-old boy while his father was out of the interrogation room could be used against him.

The 4-1 decision, in State in the Interest of A.W., A-1-11, is the latest in a line of cases that have created a presumption that a confession by a suspect younger than 14 without a parent present is not admissible unless the parent was unwilling or unable to be there.