General Discussion

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

11. I don't see how they can wait until one is an adult. If it's a serious matter, charge right away.

Sat May 18, 2013, 09:33 PM

May 2013

This seems like double jeopardy in a way, two different laws:

Not chargeable since can't be found guilty by reason of age.

Then charge when can be found guilty by reason of age.

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Happy birthday, you're a sex offender! Florida girl charged upon turning 18, for dating a 15yo girl. [View all] backscatter712 May 2013 OP

wouldn't the younger girl have to testify dlwickham May 2013 #1

They may force her to testify. backscatter712 May 2013 #2

They need to use the "Romeo and Juliet" clause MattBaggins May 2013 #3

not every state has such exceptions dsc May 2013 #5

Apparently, the only thing the Romeo and Juliet clause in Florida does... backscatter712 May 2013 #7

Text of law: DRoseDARs May 2013 #10

Yep. It only lets her apply to get off the sex-offender registry. backscatter712 May 2013 #13

I was hoping there was a technicality somewhere in there. Nope, simple open-and-shut case. DRoseDARs May 2013 #16

It depends on whether the persecutor can actually prove to a jury that sex occurred after 18. backscatter712 May 2013 #18

One ray of hope there. And a faint one at that. Hope the best for this couple. nt DRoseDARs May 2013 #20

This is when these kinds of trials get very ugly. backscatter712 May 2013 #23

I wonder what the definition of statutory rape is in Florida, pnwmom May 2013 #41

Digging a little deeper, FL law doesn't seem to be able to make up its mind. DRoseDARs May 2013 #44

So unless there was "penetration" in that small window of time, pnwmom May 2013 #46

If it was a crime, why wait to charge? Seems hinky. freshwest May 2013 #12

It became a crime on the girl's 18th birthday. backscatter712 May 2013 #14

But it wasn't committed when she was 18. Was it a crime when she was 17? freshwest May 2013 #17

I agree it's BS, but it seems to be a common tactic. That works. backscatter712 May 2013 #21

There was no crime until she turned 18. Ms. Toad May 2013 #26

That would meet my understanding. The story seems to say this happened when one was 15 and the other freshwest May 2013 #28

I haven't checked out the Florida statute Ms. Toad May 2013 #29

But there might not have been enough time for her to carry out the "crime" if they instantly pnwmom May 2013 #47

I see you noticed my post below - Ms. Toad May 2013 #51

According to the FB page set up for her tammywammy May 2013 #56

The same shit happens to opposite-sex couples too jmowreader May 2013 #4

there was another case where i read if they were opposite sex couples they would not JI7 May 2013 #6

I don't see how they can wait until one is an adult. If it's a serious matter, charge right away. freshwest May 2013 #11

Under the law, Jenoch May 2013 #19

You mean that juveniles can't be charged or taken into custody for sex offenses? freshwest May 2013 #24

I don't know all the details of this case, Jenoch May 2013 #25

So 16 is the age of consent, not 18. Still don't see why they waited a year when one was 17. freshwest May 2013 #27

Yes it is a mess. Jenoch May 2013 #31

why not? If two kids are having sex, which one is the perp? lumberjack_jeff May 2013 #37

Becoming an adult is what makes it a serious matter jmowreader May 2013 #38

And it appears that this did continue after the older girl was 18, so she's in big trouble. freshwest May 2013 #39

So fucked up. nt ZombieHorde May 2013 #8

Hell, where I grew up this was a favorite tactic if the folks hated the boyfriend. nolabear May 2013 #9

Sebastian: ~90 miles SE of Orlando and ~150 miles north of Miami. alp227 May 2013 #15

support the aclu Voice for Peace May 2013 #22

Really??? MichelleB May 2013 #30

They were together... her mother has a rather eloquent (and heartbreaking) post ScreamingMeemie May 2013 #33

apparently a phone call was recorded. rbnyc May 2013 #35

Hopefully, this story goes National, Volaris May 2013 #32

It really seems that a relationship that is legal at some point... BlueCheese May 2013 #34

After reading the parents' page on Facebook - Ms. Toad May 2013 #36

Thanks. n/t pnwmom May 2013 #48

Bad law, unfortunately Recursion May 2013 #40

I'm wondering how the parents can prove that there was sexual involvement pnwmom May 2013 #42

This story is truly beyond fucked up Initech May 2013 #43

idiotic. nt Deep13 May 2013 #45

And this is why some are advocating lowering age of consent laws davidn3600 May 2013 #49

Romeo and Juliet Law LostOne4Ever May 2013 #50

My daughter turned 18 as a Senior HockeyMom May 2013 #52

I dated a younger guy when I was a Sophomore in college and he was a Junior in HS blueamy66 May 2013 #54

Totally disgusting. laundry_queen May 2013 #53

I hope it brings some attention to the unjust laws. lumberjack_jeff May 2013 #55

It won't davidn3600 May 2013 #62

Thank God for the government! tabasco May 2013 #57

Sign the petition tammywammy May 2013 #58

Signed n/t geomon666 May 2013 #61

...and another one for the mugshot .com extortionists. n/t L0oniX May 2013 #59

Kick ScreamingMeemie May 2013 #60

I just don't understand. MichelleB May 2013 #63