General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: ACLU of Florida Statement on Prosecution of 18-Year-Old Kaitlyn Hunt [View all]shawn703
(2,712 posts)Either way, I've since been to Wikipedia to look up age of consent laws because of a statement someone else made today, so it's too late for me to not check them.
Michigan (where I grew up)
The age of consent in Michigan is 16 and there is no close in age exception, unless one is an authority figure in which case the age of consent is 18.
Virginia (where I am now)
The age of consent in Virginia is 18, with a close in age exception that allows teenagers aged 15 to 17 to engage in sexual acts but only with a partner younger than 18.
So yes, when I was in 18 in Michigan my peers and I had the right perception that girls younger than 16 were off limits. And yes, I can have an 18 year old locked up in Virginia for messing with my 14 year old daughter. If I wanted to be really strict about it, I could have an 18 year old locked up on his birthday for messing with my 17 year old daughter the day before her 18th birthday - but that's extreme to me. If that's what you're getting at, I see your point - but my point has always been that 18 year olds should not be taking advantage of 14 year olds.
Also, the older girl in this situation knew what she was doing was wrong, and did it anyway:
"The misinformation on the social media sites indicates law enforcement purposely waited until miss hunt turned 18--that's not true--Miss Hunt was 18 in early August," said Sheriff Loar, "The victim was 14, and has been and was 14 throughout that whole ordeal."
New evidence released today shows Facebook messages to the victim from Kate, stating she knew she'd get in trouble for dating a girl so young.
"Before Miss Hunt was arrested there were conversations on social media that she knew she was 18 and she knew what she was wrong with a younger person," Loar said. "I think you must look at all the facts involved."
http://cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/free-kate-new-bombshell-kaitlyn-hunt-teen-lesbian-affair-7523.shtml?wap=0