Sentence in student sex case shocks ex-teacher in Oklahoma

[lumberjack_jeff]

152. I think there are a couple of points that should be made here

1) there's a lot of territory between "It's a victimless crime! He's probably bragging about it!" and "You think a life sentence is too strict?? You pedophile apologist!!!" I'm not convinced that the punishment is justified by the crime, but there's a very real victim here, every bit as real as if the victim was a girl.

2) boys and girls are different, and some use that as a justification for differential legal treatment. If that's true, then arguably the delay in maturity of boys relative to girls argues for harsher sentences for people who exploit boys. Further, like Vili Fullau, the harm caused by the crime doesn't go away, ever, not even after the child Ms Letourneau chose to give birth to becomes an adult.

The opposite argument either essentially requires that we ignore everything we know about child development, and say that boys are de-facto adults at age 15 or 16. Or, on the other hand, we may simply admit that we just don't care as much about boys' wellbeing and consider victimization and exploitation they experience such as STD's and child support, as important learning opportunities.