Anonymous on the case of lesbian girl charged with statutory rape.

[Spike89]

64. Does not presume coercion

Actually, statutory rape doesn't concern coercion. By statute, a minor is not legally capable of providing consent. Coercion would move it beyond statutory and into straightforward rape.

Although I'm not terribly outraged by the relationship and believe it shouldn't be prosecuted, I too am uncomfortable with the efforts of Kaitlyn's supporters to minimize or slightly alter the facts. At the time of the "crime" the victim was 14 and Kaitlyn was 18. Their ages are slightly more than 3 years apart, they are 4 years apart in grade level. If Kaitlyn was actually a 17-year-old senior, it was for only a matter of days as she turned 18 in August (don't know exactly when school started).

An 18-year-old with a 14-year-old (as they obviously were for at least a few months) is a bit sketchy IMO. Both sets of parents could and should have gotten more involved before the issue became a legal one. The power differential is pretty great at that age...a very young girl trying to fit into the social circle of a very popular senior is a potential problem.

I hate that sexual orientation is an issue here, and I also hate that these borderline "Romeo and Juliette" cases have such high-stakes. There is no benefit to society in branding Kaitlyn (or any teen in a similar situation) as a sexual predator or even a felon. Should there be a lesser criminal designation/penalty? I think so.