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freshwest

(53,661 posts)

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

Sun May 19, 2013, 02:07 AM

May 2013

The law can be very rigid. It does not appear the younger girl was coerced, but law remains.

Police recorded them talking about their relationship, which in a post below indicates it went further than holding hands and kissing after the older girl turned 18 and there it is. Motivations don't matter, the text of the law does, and she is caught.

I don't know if there is any hope for them overcoming it because statutory rape, IIRC, does not depend on a complaint from the parties involved. It's just the law and even if both are willing, it doesn't matter.

It's terrible when private actions lead to public results, for the hearts and minds of the ones in the situation. In a couple years the younger girl would naturally be emancipated, and this would not be an issue.

Youth, passion, free spirits and the law collide. Tragic.

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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