ok, thats a parental issue, not a legal issue, unless she was raped.
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Underage teen faces life as registered sex offender for having sex with underage gf
- Thread starter AuthenticM
- Start date
ok, thats a parental issue, not a legal issue, unless she was raped.
WaffleTaco
Wants to outlaw technological innovation.
Just because it is happening, doesn't mean it should be. Either way we need better sex ed classes because let's face it, kids are dumb. Especially ones going through puberty.
radios shipping overview
Member
I'd be curious to know about the socioeconomic status of each child's parents and whether the girl's parents are friends with the DA.
It will happen whether it should be or not, teens are maturing quicker. Instead of demonizing it people should be teaching the kids to be safe while doing it. This boy maybe getting a record does fuck all to stop others.
The problem is that there has to be a hard line in the sand drawn for an age that can legally not give consent. Most states draw that line at 13. It's basically similar to an intoxicated person can't consent to sex in that someone 13 and younger can't mentally consent to an act that they don't fully understand. So anything 13 and under is generally considered rape, some states still use statitory rape as their charge, some have changed the wording but the intent is still the same.
Another thing to consider is that the girls parents of the girl have to be pushing for the charges because with no willing victim, you have no crime. So in order for the boy to be charged, the girls parents have to be the ones to pursue charges. Yes the law should be interpreted with some level of common sense, but the parents are pressing the issue.
Another thing to consider is that the girls parents of the girl have to be pushing for the charges because with no willing victim, you have no crime. So in order for the boy to be charged, the girls parents have to be the ones to pursue charges. Yes the law should be interpreted with some level of common sense, but the parents are pressing the issue.
Thatonemoor
Member
All of you guys saying throw the book at him are strangely ok with ruining the life of a 14 year old. There is a whole lot of wrong going on around here but making him a sex offender is effectively ruining any chance of him doing anything but going to jail when he gets older. I think the answer here is just keep them separated. Issue a restraining order and call it a day.
John Caboose
Member
Horrible being branded a sex offender that young and for something that theres not really anything wrong with.
In Sweden where Im from the age of consent is 15 but theres still some stuff that has an age limit of 18. Theres also leniency for similar ages and development stages despite being on different sides of 15. For instance 17 and 14.
If both are under 15 no criminal charges or anything can be brought against them, however social services can be brought in if it is warranted in the specific case.
In Sweden where Im from the age of consent is 15 but theres still some stuff that has an age limit of 18. Theres also leniency for similar ages and development stages despite being on different sides of 15. For instance 17 and 14.
If both are under 15 no criminal charges or anything can be brought against them, however social services can be brought in if it is warranted in the specific case.
WaffleTaco
Wants to outlaw technological innovation.
I disagree with your point that teens are maturing faster. I do however agree that around this age they need to know how to have safe sex and the dangers of sex as well.
It's going to happen whether people like it or not so it's important to teach children how to be safe instead of just telling them DON'T DO IT!
My mother was 14 when she had me and my father was 17, and in her mind to prevent me from doing what she did she chose to cut the topic of sex out completely. It was something I shouldn't hear, see, or talk about because I shouldn't be doing it until I was of age. Of course what does that make most kids do? Know more about it. Luckily, there was sexual education at school and condoms in the nurses off. So when my first time came, around the same age as my mother, I had better resources in place than she did.
My mother was 14 when she had me and my father was 17, and in her mind to prevent me from doing what she did she chose to cut the topic of sex out completely. It was something I shouldn't hear, see, or talk about because I shouldn't be doing it until I was of age. Of course what does that make most kids do? Know more about it. Luckily, there was sexual education at school and condoms in the nurses off. So when my first time came, around the same age as my mother, I had better resources in place than she did.
Atomic Playboy
Member
The irony of naming a law after a situation it wouldn't have applied to... In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet was only 13.
Sex offender registries are so wildly overused that they are effectively useless. By all means, let us know if a convicted child rapist is nearby; that's useful information. But when you start using it to brand consensual underage romances, or people caught drunkenly urinating in public, you've perverted the concept so completely that it no longer has any meaning.
Sabercrusader
Member
I certainly hope that the judges can use basic reasoning and common sense here to avoid placing this teen in the registered sex offender list.
AuthenticM
Member
I don't know about Texas law, but in Canada, prosecutors are the ones who lay charges. They have a discretionary power that allows them to decide if charges should be laid or not. Even if charges can be laid, they don't have to.
People are getting really hung up on the 12 and 14 year old part, but in reality they're only a grade apart, 6 and 7. Either way, the kid shouldn't have such a threat to his future for this. Kids are going to have sex whether you want them to or not. My best friend lost his virginity in grade 6. Yeah, sex education needs to be a lot better but this doesn't help anyone.
CyclopsRock
Member
It's entirely possible they know about all that and still decide to do it. The problem, as far as I can see it, is that these kids (or rather, the 14 year old boy) has been criminalised for something for which there's no real victim and isn't a moral issue (which is to say that if a 14 year old beats someone up, or robs someone, you can argue that they're too young to go to prison but they are old enough to know right from wrong. If you're a 14 year old who thinks, in their naive young way, that they love someone, having sex with that person isn't a morally wrong thing to do, even if it's not sensible).
I remember when Dateline did a story about a similar situation for a married couple who had this happen and they were both 16. Man gets registered but his now wife wasn't. Even she was wondering why she wasn't registered. It's bizarre to me. They're ruining the lives of children this way.
llien
Banned
"But both are kids" is understandable, but there is age difference at which you still want to cut it off (e.g. 15 and 9 years old not "kids having sex" for me)
It seems law already had limit of 3 years.
But then, I wonder what was the motivation for that law to only apply when both parties are at least 14. Did they rule out kids of that age could have sex, or were the intentions to actually punish for it.
Because he's older, I guess.
So if she would be 14 and he 12, she could be charged.
Not sure if that's how it works, but it would at least be consistent.
UPDATE: oh, it seems I was wrong as law is harsher on boys:
That doesn't sound... fair.
No, you are not alone. Girls parents is my guess.
It seems law already had limit of 3 years.
But then, I wonder what was the motivation for that law to only apply when both parties are at least 14. Did they rule out kids of that age could have sex, or were the intentions to actually punish for it.
Because he's older, I guess.
So if she would be 14 and he 12, she could be charged.
Not sure if that's how it works, but it would at least be consistent.
UPDATE: oh, it seems I was wrong as law is harsher on boys:
That doesn't sound... fair.
No, you are not alone. Girls parents is my guess.
Echoing that post on the front page again about how 12 is too young, but branding for life is horrible and uncalled for.
A different deal, but this reminds me of the registered "offender" that was on our street. I don't remember exact details, but it was something like... The dad didn't like the boyfriend, his daughter was 15, the boyfriend 17. Boyfriend's birthday rolled around before hers, so he was 18 and her 15. The dad got him put onto the offender list by saying that he was having sex with a minor - his daughter. They had been going out for two years, and her birthday was going to be later that year.
He's still on the list. Has never done anything else in his life.
I'm just saying off of memory from something my Mother told me about three or four years ago, though. Some details may be off, but the gist was definitely 'BF/GF going out, age gap wasn't that large, had been going out for a while, dad had disdain for BF, got him put on the offender list on 18th birthday since he was now an adult.'
A different deal, but this reminds me of the registered "offender" that was on our street. I don't remember exact details, but it was something like... The dad didn't like the boyfriend, his daughter was 15, the boyfriend 17. Boyfriend's birthday rolled around before hers, so he was 18 and her 15. The dad got him put onto the offender list by saying that he was having sex with a minor - his daughter. They had been going out for two years, and her birthday was going to be later that year.
He's still on the list. Has never done anything else in his life.
I'm just saying off of memory from something my Mother told me about three or four years ago, though. Some details may be off, but the gist was definitely 'BF/GF going out, age gap wasn't that large, had been going out for a while, dad had disdain for BF, got him put on the offender list on 18th birthday since he was now an adult.'
NervousXtian
Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
That's in reference to R&J laws, which typically are 3 years difference. Expanding his age by a year just shows how fucked up that would be for kids as young as 12.
Also, stop calling her a teen. She's TWELVE.
CyclopsRock
Member
Lol. You can't have it both ways.
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
The underlying problem is early puberty. The parents here are probably losing their shit but I think society at large would rather pretend situations like this aren't happening on a large scale.
Bounceounce
Member
Wow that's terrible, what was his life like?
Glass Shark
Banned
Yep, pretty much my feelings on it. Things get really iffy when you are talking about consent of a 12 year old. I dont know that children of that age have reached a level of maturity to really understand what they are agreeing to. But I also dont think the 14-year-old should have a lifelong label because of teenage/pre-teen fooling around.
Every time one of these cases comes up it seems like the courts want to be able to fit everyone in a nice little spreadsheet, but these things absolutely have to be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Yep.
That is fucking awful.
Can't remember exactly but I think here in Sweden we have our first sex ed classes around when 12-13 years old. It's kinda well known that you can't stop children and young teens around the start of puberty from starting to explore, and puberty is goddamn difficult to put an exact date on for everyone, so you might as well teach them safety lessons as early as possible so that they are ready.
It's way better to be early out with information and just do your best to make it safe than punishing freakin' 12-14 year olds with life-long punishments that will haunt them for the rest of their existence.
Can't remember exactly but I think here in Sweden we have our first sex ed classes around when 12-13 years old. It's kinda well known that you can't stop children and young teens around the start of puberty from starting to explore, and puberty is goddamn difficult to put an exact date on for everyone, so you might as well teach them safety lessons as early as possible so that they are ready.
It's way better to be early out with information and just do your best to make it safe than punishing freakin' 12-14 year olds with life-long punishments that will haunt them for the rest of their existence.
Killing_Joke
Member
Fine the parents a small but decent fee. Parents punish the kids. Everyone wins.
Or at the very least, create some sort of 3 strike rule. No reason to destroy a kids life.
Or at the very least, create some sort of 3 strike rule. No reason to destroy a kids life.
NervousXtian
Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
Huh?
I'm pointing out the absurdity of taking a law to protect almost legal age kids from having sex with their boyfriend/girlfriend from being prosecuted and applying it to a child the age of 12.
What is exactly the point YOU are trying to make?
Generalpsyduck
Banned
15 is a lot older and more mature than 12. Kid deserves punishment this might be bit far but he definitely deserves punishment.
Straight Edge
Member
I'd like to know how long this was going on between them and would hope it is fairly recent.
Alex_Mexico
Member
Yeah get that kid in jail! Now if you'll excuse me I have to buy a firearm for my son's birthday at my Walmart.
Fulminator
Member
Probably nothing, that's within the scope of the r&j laws
Well at least there would probably be no legal case there
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
And yet, a 28 year old can have sex with 11 year old and get away with it because the court deemed it "consensual".
Sunster
Member
yea I know. it's gross to me but it's just one of those things that's gonna happen. I intend on talking to my kids about this early. My hope is that they aren't out doing it at 12 and 14 though. A 12 year old should not be having sex.
yea, I literally said it's a parental issue earlier lol. I said I don't think the kids should be punished by law.
This isn't actually true, and is in the same category as "this generation of kids is the worst yet".
There were 12 year olds having sex when your grandma was a kid. The average age that teens lose their virginity has remained about the same for decades. It has actually been going up recently, as some teens choose internet and gaming over socializing with peers.
Sunster
Member
I think they meant children's bodies are maturing faster. which is true.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
While I agree that case was fucked up beyond belief and the sentencing was too lenient, he didn't "get away with it", since he got 5 years
ersocaster
Member
A two year age difference but only a one year grade difference. 7th and 6th grader.
The kid doesn't deserve a lifetime on the sex registry. Counseling or sex education, sure.
Mostly because of nutritional changes.
Huh? Both are in their time of puberty, girls start around two years earlier, so it fits?
Sunster
Member
yep, whatever the reason, it's happening.
Earthbound64
Banned
Wonder how this thread would look if it read:
Teen faces life as registered sex offender for having sex with 12-year-old.
Phrasing and optics and all that.
Teen faces life as registered sex offender for having sex with 12-year-old.
Phrasing and optics and all that.
BibiMaghoo
Member
Neither child should be punished. If any of the kids parents knew this was happening or assisted it in any way they should be slammed hard.
Sunster
Member
5 pages of people asking the teens age?
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