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[TickleMeElbow]

I'm substitute teaching for middle school and high school right now, and so even if 12 year old girl and 14 year old boy might seem a bit skeezy at first glance , there's a million different scenarios where it's perfectly normal. Girls develop much earlier than boys, first of alo. Sometimes I have high school freshmen boys that look like they belong in sixth grade, and sometimes there's middle school girls that look like they're high schoolers.

Of course vice versa is occasionally true too, but I'd wager the developmental gap between the two kids in this case isn't as much, or in the same way, as people think. The boys are routinely far more immature than the girls all the way through like sophomore year of high school, and it's noticeable my mid late elementary even.

Sucks for the 14 year old boy, hopefully there's an uproar and he avoids it.

Uh, wtf.

I was a freshman in HS at 14. This is basically a freshman in HS banging a 6th - 7th grader, which is gross.

Shit I remember this 8th grader at my middle school who would only date 6th graders, and we used to hum the "Jaws theme" whenever he was walking down the hallway because everyone saw him as a predator. By 14 most of us definitely had enough sense in us to not fuck around with 6th graders FFS.

Anyhoo, I do agree that he shouldn't be registered as a sex offender. The article states that most juveniles aren't forced to register, so I think counseling should be enough in this case.

 

[KarneeKarnay]

Ok, charge her if she was privy to this going on.

Literally my first thought.

 

[Gabriel_Logan]

This shit needs to stop.

 

[captive]

In my town, 6th grade is elementary school. These stories increasingly hit home as I have a 12 year old daughter.

There should be consequences, but clearly what is being proposed is ludicrous.

yea the consequences should be dolled out by the parents.

Because she is 12. She’s a child and can’t give consent. What if it was a 17 year old with a 12 year old?

I mean, obviously he shouldn’t be a registered sex offender but she was under the age of consent so it’s not as simple as “they were both underage”.

he was under the age of consent too, ever think of that?

 

[N7.Angel]

That's fucking absurd...

 

[Vital Tundra]

Absolutely insane ruining this kids life before it starts. Neither of them are in a place to be making right decisions, the kids not a predator. They are literally 2 ill informed, hormone driven kids. It happens and yeah we may not like it but its human nature to have sex, especially at a time when we are literally going through puberty. You can say 12 is the defining factor but my guess is they are both at that point of being "sex ready". Hormones are going wild at those ages, and things happen. There is no victim here.

 

[mortal]

Where the hell are parents in this situation?

This kids life could potentially be ruined forever because his parents couldn't be bothered to educate him about sex. Wow.

He's a human boy going throuh puberty, kids need honest guidance during this period.

 

[kswiston]

Why is this kid in only 7th grade if he is 14? I was a freshman at that age.

I'm assuming that it happened last school year. This year's grade 6 kids should all be 11, or nearly 11 if they weren't held back. Grade 7s should be 12.

So the boy was probably held back a year, and was a Grade 7 last school year.

I have a March birthday and turned 14 at the end of Grade 8. 13 at the end of Grade 7.

Edit: Ya, the arrest happened in May.

 

[shintoki]

I agree that sex-offender registries for teenagers engaged in acts with other teenagers are a flawed, bad idea BUUUUUUT in this case it's not so cut and dried (although to be clear I don't think most things a 14 yr old does should follow them around legally when they are adults).

The difference between 14 and 12 is pretty significant. That's still a teenager (mostly) having sex with a child.

One is in sixth grade, the other seventh. More likely he just turned 14 and her birthday is coming up(late)

 

[VariantX]

This is stupid. They're both underage and they're within 2 years of age of each other. The lack of common sense here is baffling.

 

[Hidden One]

I'm just wondering what races they are. I'm pretty sure the boy is non-white.

 

[Days like these...]

How the fuck is someone 14 and in 7th grade!? Back on topic I don't think 12 yr olds should be having sex.

 

[Acerac]

How the fuck is someone 14 and in 7th grade!? Back on topic I don't think 12 yr olds should be having sex.

Do you really need somebody to explain it to you?

 

[Westbahnhof]

How the fuck is someone 14 and in 7th grade!? Back on topic I don't think 12 yr olds should be having sex.

Seeing how kids are 5-7 years old in 1st grade they'll be
6-8 years old in 2nd grade and
7-9 years old in 3nd grade and
8-10 years old in 4nd grade and
9-11 years old in 5nd grade and
10-12 years old in 6nd grade and
11-13 years old in 7nd grade.

Let's assume he's one of the older kids. Boom, he's 13 in 7th grade.
Oh, he got held back once, or repeated a year for some other reason?
14.
It's not that uncommon.

 

[Future]

It seems like common sense should stop this from happening but America be crazy

This right here

 

[ResidentWeevil13]

This is only partially related but has anyone listened to "In the Dark"?

It's probably the best price of true crime media I've ever listened to or watched. It details the abduction of Jacob Wetterling, and branches out to talk about how that case was the stimulus for national laws on sex offenders and the creation of the sex offender registry.

There's a great part where Jacob's mother laments how these laws, some of which I believe she spoke in favor for at the time, turned out to be over reactions and that people are getting caught up in the registry that shouldn't be there. It's pretty tragic.

 

[mullet2000]

Where the hell are parents in this situation?

This kids life could potentially be ruined forever because his parents couldn't be bothered to educate him about sex. Wow.

He's a human boy going throuh puberty, kids need honest guidance during this period.

It's really easy to say "where were the parents?" but frankly, a kid could have the best sex education in the world and end up have sex at 12/13/14 anyway. When I was 13 I was dating someone who was 12. If she offered I undoubtedly would have said yes, and my parents were pretty damn proactive about sex education.

It's really not that different that 12 and 14.

If you both dating and want to do it, you're probably going to do it...

Where the education shines is making sure that if they do it, they do it in a safe way. For all we know, these kids were being safe about it. We just don't know.

 

[darkwing]

the act is wrong, but not lifetime wrong, can you imagine being registered sex offender that young?

 

[Yoshi]

They shouldn’t be doing it so young but trying to slam a charge on this kid is fucking absurd.

Two underage individuals - not statutory rape.
Two legal individuals - not statutory rape. One of age individual, one underage individual - statuatory rape.

How is this not clear?

He: 17, her: 7. Staturory rape? According to your easy rules: No.

I think this is quite ridiculous and it should certainly not be ruled as rape, due to the low difference in age between the two.

 

[dragonbane]

12 is too young, but here in Germany around my circles it wasnt exactly uncommon to have your first time with 14 and no one had any issues with that. I felt perfectly ready at that age since most of us were educated young on these things.

Even if she was a bit too young branding him for life is ludicrous since that is far more likely to push him into a bad territory. Parents should handle this

 

[Deleted member 325805]

2 years is nothing, they're both kids and this is bullshit.

 

[Earthbound64]

Well, for everyone in love with that nonsense "age/2+7" "formula," here you go.

 

[RPGCrazied]

What? This is beyond stupid. He is a minor, she is a minor. There is nothing wrong here. Some very stupid people in this world.

 

[Straight Edge]

What? This is beyond stupid. He is a minor, she is a minor. There is nothing wrong here. Some very stupid people in this world.

Is there any age where you would consider this wrong? 14 and 11? How do we draw a line?

 

[CyclopsRock]

If you can't see who is benefiting from a particular action, it's probably not a very good action.

 

[NervousXtian]

My son's 12, daughter 10.

There's some bad parenting here if your 12yr old is hooking up.

I don't think he should be put on a list.. but 12 is young. I mean what if he was 15? Where's the cut-off... R&J laws make sense to protect innocent people, but if he was 15 and she was 12... you don't see the issue?

Not saying he should have the book thrown at him, but damn... 12 is still a child.

 

[Sunster]

ekk...12.... where are those parents? I don't agree with the sentence, or any sentence for this. But them parents, where are they?

 

[SolarPowered]

That'll learn him.

Such a waste of time, money and resources. Still kinda young, but there are worse things in the world.

 

[Straight Edge]

ekk...12.... where are those parents? I don't agree with the sentence, or any sentence for this. But them parents, where are they?

Well the boy's mom knew about it and thinks it's cute.

 

[Deleted member 325805]

Not saying he should have the book thrown at him, but damn... 12 is still a child.

So is 14 ma dude.

 

[captive]

i feel like a lot of peoples problems here is the boy is the one who is 14. I dont think people would have as much of a problem if it were the boy 12 and the girl 14.

Unless he actually raped her, there is no problem here, other than bad parenting.

 

[Sunster]

Well the boy's mom knew about it and thinks it's cute.

 

[Raptomex]

My son's 12, daughter 10.

There's some bad parenting here if your 12yr old is hooking up.

I don't think he should be put on a list.. but 12 is young. I mean what if he was 15? Where's the cut-off... R&J laws make sense to protect innocent people, but if he was 15 and she was 12... you don't see the issue?

Not saying he should have the book thrown at him, but damn... 12 is still a child.

I agree 12 is too young. But branding a 14 year old for life is insane. I would argue 14 is too young as well.

It's only 2 years. People seem to think there's a magical age where you wake up one day and everything is completely different. I'm not talking about puberty. We can say there's a line but people are different and mature differently (I'm not saying children should be having sex). It's not like you're going to stop it from happening either. What if it is was a 12 and 13 year old? Would the 13 year old be treated the same? What if it was 12 and 12? 12 and 10? I mean is a 14 year old that much different than a 12 year old besides any major physical differences? Is that what it's all based on? The physical? Could one argue girls mature faster than boys? I know I've heard that before (not that she should be blamed for anything). Regardless, I feel both are too young to be having sex but ruining a teen's life in this case is ridiculous.

 

[Sunster]

i feel like a lot of peoples problems here is the boy is the one who is 14. I dont think people would have as much of a problem if it were the boy 12 and the girl 14.

Unless he actually raped her, there is no problem here, other than bad parenting.

my problem is 12 year old having sex. my sister is 12 and she plays with stuffed animals and collects stickers.

 

[Seesaw15]

Well the boy's mom knew about it and thinks it's cute.

The mom didn't know they were having sex.

 

[Westbahnhof]

Is there any age where you would consider this wrong? 14 and 11? How do we draw a line?

I'll repeat what I posted a few pages back, because I'd like your thoughts on this:

In Austria, a 12 year old can legally sleep with a 14 year old.
11 and 14 would be forbidden for the older kid.
12 and 15, same situation. 13 and 15 would be okay.
Below 14, they couldn't be charged with a crime. If both are over 14, it's okay too, but much stricter rules apply with regard to manipulation and abuse of immaturity.

It's a bit weird, but I think it's a system that mostly works.

 

[NervousXtian]

So is 14 ma dude.

Of course 14 is still young.. and it's too young. 12 though, 12 is really young. There's huge bodily changes at that age range. That's a big gap.. I don't know if there should be a punishment, probably not.. but it's concerning that a 12 year old is sexually active in any way, even with someone their own age.

 

[Beefy]

Okay, 12 is too young. Young enough that parents or guardians involved aren't parenting enough.

I don't think the 14y/o should be on the register, someone needs to do some freaking parenting.

Teens will find a way. I would rather parents knew they were having sex so they could talk to them about being safe.

 

[Beefy]

my problem is 12 year old having sex. my sister is 12 and she plays with stuffed animals and collects stickers.

Why is it a problem? It's almost if some boys/girls are more muture then others.

Children are maturing younger and younger. Get use to it.

 

[Aizo]

It's super young, but if those kids consensually wanted to have sex, whose business is it but their own? Poor kid.

 

[Sunster]

Why is it a problem? It's almost if some boys/girls are more muture then others.

It's a problem for me as in, a personal problem. Not some failing of society or that girl's morals.

 

[Beefy]

It's a problem for me as in, a personal problem. Not some failing of society or that girl's morals.

But why? Are you religious?

 

[Sunster]

But why? Are you religious?

yes but the reason is literally just because my little sister is 12. any story about a 12 year old I think of her. If my sister was 15 or 8, maybe I wouldn't even have posted.

 

[Shotgun Kiss]

They shouldn't be doing it so young but trying to slam a charge on this kid is fucking absurd.

Two underage individuals - not statutory rape.
Two legal individuals - not statutory rape. One of age individual, one underage individual - statuatory rape.

How is this not clear?

The problem with that is there'd be a point where it would be perfectly legal for them to have sex one day, and illegal the following day upon the older person's birthday.

That "Romeo & Juliet" exception is a far better solution. The problem is that it wasn't applied in this instance.

 

[WaffleTaco]

And this is why the sex offender list and branding is just ridiculous.

 

[Sulik2]

God this makes me angry. The prosecutor pursing this should be fired. Use a little damn common sense. Ruining this kids life because some puritan prosecutor refuses to admit that teens have sex.

 

[WaffleTaco]

God this makes me angry. The prosecutor pursing this should be fired. Use a little damn common sense. Ruining this kids life because some puritan prosecutor refuses to admit that teens have sex.

This isn't how the law works.

 

[la_briola]

Because she is 12. She’s a child and can’t give consent. What if it was a 17 year old with a 12 year old?

I mean, obviously he shouldn’t be a registered sex offender but she was under the age of consent so it’s not as simple as “they were both underage”.

but what if he was 35, and she was 6? lock that pedo up!

 

[Einchy]

Lots of "so what if he was way older than he actually is" posts. You know this ain't a big deal when you gotta start bumping his age to make this an actual big deal.

[edit]

Well, not 'lots' but a few.

 

[Beefy]

yes but the reason is literally just because my little sister is 12. any story about a 12 year old I think of her. If my sister was 15 or 8, maybe I wouldn't even have posted.

Have to accept a lot of kids grow up way quicker now man. I was 13 and my mom ended up finding out. She didn't like it, but accepted it was going to happen anyways. She said would rather I had told her what was going on, so she could teach me about safe sex etc.

Society as a whole is very sexualized, kids wanting sex will get younger and younger.