This story was sent to me by an ACLU type group I'm member of. I had to ask myself if what these kids did deserves for them the criminal label of a 'sex-offender' that will stick with them for life. What is our legal system thinking? Any thoughts folks?

This particular prosecutor has painted hersslf into a corner that she would probably at this point like to get out of without having to follow through with this prosecution.  Responsible adults have to control themselves and not let the disrespectful "attitude" that a teenager has get to them and prevent them  from doing what is best for the child.

Damn! I don't really know what I think about that!

I'm sure glad no one cared what I was doing when I was a teenager! I started thinking about sex at a very early age, and on my 13th birthday I went to the dr, got on the pill then waited a month for them to become effective. Then I went to the drugstore and bought condoms, picked out an older teenage boy that I thought would be fun, and got my brains _____ed out. I figured out very fast that teenage boys don't know what the hell they are doing, so I started going for the older guys.

I've always known I was a pervert, but according to that article, I was a sexual predator! I wonder if any of my "victims" were emotionally scarred for life? LOL
I kind of doubt it *wink*

*smiles*
Jan Brady
Kansas City

In California, each of the two minors is committing a sexual assault on the other by having sex with a minor.  Whether a prosecutor would bring the charges is another question -- but who wants to leave these things to prosecutor (and social worker) discretion?

What if you have a 13 year old and a 15 year old?  Will the older child be prosecuted but not the younger one?  Let's say the younger child has been interviewed by a social worker, who has determined serious emotional trauma has occurred as the result of the contact...

Also, each time they have sex, they are committing another offense.

What happens when the "romance" breaks up, as it will?  Can one child hold the threat of prosecution over the head of the other child?  How does the child deal with the pain of what may be a first-ever broken affair, when she is too young to cope with it and also has to keep it a secret from her parents?  (Sort of like cheating on a spouse, but cheating on the parents, instead, right?)  Who does she turn to?

Will the parents be sued for damages?  Let's add more "real world " complications.  Ted is divorced and has a 15 year old son.  Sue is divorced and has a 14 year old daughter.  Ted and Sue get married.  Their children are home alone a lot and pretty soon are having sex.  What happens when the other parent and/or a social worker finds out what is going on under Ted and Sue's roof?

What happens when the two minors develop a long term relationship?  Sex when they are both minors is one thing.  What happens when the boy turns 18 and the girl is still 16 or 17?  The "criminal law" stakes are raised by an order of magnitude, though the relationship hasn't changed.

And what is the statute of limitations?  How long later in life can one of the two children revisit the "trauma" of the underage sex and seek financial compensation?

In my view, the law applicable to all of this is absurd.  How many kids actually make it to 18 without having sex with another minor?  But -- parents -- it's a disaster waiting to happen, and you won't like it if you are the unlucky ones who have to consult a lawyer about this stuff.  So, word of caution -- keep those young ones apart!

PS.  I'm on the "reply" screen and can't look back at the original message.  Didn't it say the two kids were 14?  These aren't "pre-teens" ...

The mother of this girl would press charges on her own daughter to teach her a lesson?  She can't control her behavior so she calls the police.  The prosecuters gave a deal to the boy but not to the girl.  The father of the boy turned his son in because he "refuses to follow rules." Come on who would want their own children to be branded as sex offenders at that age.  I think this case creates a dangerous precedent.  These kids probably need some serious help.  This article must not be telling everything we need to know to understand what is going on.

Trying, very hard here, to think of this as being MY daughter. Well, being the horny girl that I am I don't honestly think I'd be too worried, as long as my daughter was protecting herself and behaving responsibly. But, many parents would care and until the child is 18, parents have the right to make the rules... at least, legally.

On the other hand, I am not sure how a criminal prosecution can stand... this was not *assault* in any sense of the word. I'm also not sure why the parents involved here would want to push this to such an extreme degree... bible thumpers, perhaps? Oh, hmmm...

"Court records reveal that both come from troubled backgrounds and struggle with the same issues, such as attention deficit disorder and parental abandonment."

Perhaps trying to make up for not caring previously by going overboard now?

I'm surprised it doesn't just get thrown outta court.

It also is profoundly disturbing to me that wanting to have sex (especially at 14, oh raging hormones!) is a sign of being "troubled" to these people instead of a healthy, fun, activity that can be done safely and responsibly.  But while disturbing, NOT surprising.

Hugs*
Tamara

Good to see you posting here.

After reading your excellent reviews and visiting your website, I've been looking for an excuse to head up to KC and pay you a visit.  Hopefully I'll get the time soon.  You sound like a blast to be around.

Tamara said:

"I'm surprised it doesn't just get thrown outta court."

Rad replies:

Remember, people like John Ashcroft run the system.  They have a rather strict moral code.  Personally, I think the system is draconian and I agree with what you say about raging hormones.

Sadly, I have had to address these specific issues with tearful parents.