Charges Dropped in Fla. Student Sex Case

[RedEarth]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A former teacher sentenced to three years of house arrest for having sex with a 14-year-old student in one Florida county won't face charges in another.

Prosecutors in Marion County decided to drop charges Tuesday after a judge rejected a plea deal that would have kept Debra Lafave out of prison.

Prosecutors, defense attorneys and the victim's mother urged the judge to accept the deal so the boy wouldn't have to testify. A psychiatrist who examined the teenager told the judge previously that the boy suffered extreme anxiety from the media coverage of the case.

Marion County Circuit Judge Hale Stancil, however, said the lack of prison time for Lafave under the plea deal "shocks the conscience of this court."

Explaining the decision to drop the charges, Assistant State Attorney Richard Ridgway, said: "The court may be willing to risk the well-being of the victims in this case in order to force it to trial. I am not."

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060322/D8GGHLV00.html

[unblock]

1. can a judge find a prosecutor in contempt for willful non-prosecution?

this is a very idiotic reason to drop charges.

imagine for a moment that the child molester were male instead of female. would they ever dream of dropping the charges just to "spare" the kid having to testify???

[Lerkfish]

3. I'm suspicious as well, it doesn't pass the smell test, to me.

[patcox2]

6. Children are often more damaged by the reaction than the incident.

though its not PC, it is fact, children are often more psychologically harmed by the reaction of the adults aroud them than by the sexual incident. It would be traumatic for a young man to be responsible for sending a woman he cares about to prison for doing something he wanted to do, just because some people think sex is innately evil and bad and harmful.

[Lerkfish]

12. witnesses can be deposed on video.

and have been, for quite some time, in cases like these.
That didn't seem to stop the trial.

why is this different?

[Sgent]

13. Yep, the deposition

is usually done in a psychologists office using neutral questioning and hidden cameras (at least the ones around here).

The deposition isn't admissible in many courts since the constitution gives the right of the accuser to face the accused -- which in many states means on the stand.

The boy and his family wanted to drop the charges. W/O evidence of foul play, its hard to see that the prosecutor has anything to proceed with. A hostile witness in this type of case is useless.

[noonwitch]

14. Possibly because the kid didn't feel traumatized

The mother may not have wanted for the teacher to get jail time, she may have just wanted for her to get treatment, and to stay away from her kid.

I personally don't like videotaped testimony in cases, unless the victim is institutionalized at the time. It prevents cross-examination to some degree, which even accused child molestors have the right to do to witnesses against them. I can think of cases in which one parent will put a child up to making false accusations against the other. The accused's only recourse sometimes is to have the defense attorney question the child's account of the events in question.

From a CFC worker's perspective-it is good for the kids to come to court and confront their abusers, and to have a hand in that abuser's punishment. It helps to empower the kids. The kids see that the behavior gets punished and can feel that by coming forward they have helped prevent this from happening to other kids. Their statement prior to sentencing is also very important, if the kid is old enough to make one. A lenient-tending judge may have second thoughts about a planned sentence after hearing a kid talk about how much he or she has suffered because of the perp.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Yup.

I think it's a bit hypocritical of all these guys spouting off on how terrible this is when they know that if they, at 14, were offered the same opportunity to get it on with an attractive woman they would have jumped at the chance. I know I damn well would have, and never given a thought that I was being exploited. What is the statistic? 20% of boys lose their virginity by age 15? 70% by age 17? Are all those guys traumatized because they weren't 18 yet?

It's hard-wired in us. If she'd been 16 instead of 22, there would have never been any brouhaha about it.

Flame away.

[unblock]

27. that's completely beside the point

it doesn't matter that the kid perhaps wanted it too, or that you or i would have wanted it.

sure, it's hard-wired, but when you lack the maturity, it's called "being taken advantage of".

afaik, no one's talking about the kid being coerced. but coercion is not the issue. taking advantage is.

[RaleighNCDUer]

29. Uh huh. And it looks like he definitely took advantage of an

opportunity.

[unblock]

33. if your point is that some people can survive statutory rape just fine,

then i agree. and that statement is true for some girls as well as boys.
on the other hand, some people can survive getting mugged and think it's no big deal, whereas other are psychologically scarred for life.

you probably THINK that the boy was lucky because you perhaps are imagining a chance to "score" with a good looking teacher or woman from your own childhood. you might think differently about it if the advances weren't from your favorite teacher, or if you already had an age-appropriate girlfriend at the time, or if your parents had instilled in you some fear of stds/pregnancy, or if you felt that your grades would be at risk if you said no, or if you thought that your peers might retaliate, or if you thought that your parents would disown you if they found out, etc., etc., etc.

when guys fantasize about such things, they focus on the sex an ignore the consequences.

in any event, these are all still crimes, and they're crimes for good reason, and should be prosecuted as such.

[Laelth]

43. I am very uncomfortable with any consensual sex being a crime.

I think 14 year olds can give consent. When people don't consent to sex, the crime is called rape. This woman was prosecuted for statutory rape precisely because the state admitted that the young man consented and was capable of giving consent.

IMHO, the crime of statutory rape should be abolished. In clearly egregious cases, make the state prove that the minor was incapable of giving consent (too young, mentally undeveloped, etc.) and then prosecute the offender for a real crime, i.e. rape. But when the state can't prove lack of consent, as is the case here, I don't think a felony conviction is appropriate.

-Laelth

[RazzleDazzle]

45. Children -- even older ones (teens) -- are incapable of giving

valid consent in cases where there's a significant maturity and therefore power imbalance. They're often incapable of seeing or comprehending that they are being used and abused -- sometimes even until much later in life.

It is inappropriate and harmful to a "child" to elevate them in this way to a status comparable to an adult. They're not adults and doing so gives them an inappropriate sense of themselves. Further, it usually sexualizes the child to evermore prefer older women, and it's ALWAYS an abuse of power, something which NO amoung of "consent" can overcome, and an abuse of power is ALWAYS taking advantage of and "using" the child. This comes at a price to the child -- it can't be otherwise. It says to the child: your development and your needs are secondary to my sexual needs. You are worth far less than I am.

Male fantasies aside, this is a terrible thing to do to a young, innocent teen boy (or girl). Even if the boy THINKS it's cool and THINKS he's capable of and has given appropriate consent AND that no harm has been done, just good, clean fun, the psychological damage is pretty much inevitable (tho variable in degree) and may not appear for many years, just as women who were sexually abused as children may not show much of their psychological damage until later in life.


I'm curious. Are you a NAMBLA supporter? Would you also consider so-called "consensual sex" between, say, a parish priest and a young gay teen okay?

[Laelth]

68. Hmm ...

I readily admit that there are plenty of people, both children and adults, who are incapable of giving consent. Make the state prove it. Let the jury decide whether consent was given or not. I trust juries to make this determination. I object to any law that says, whenever a person under the age of 18 has sex with a person over the age of 18, the younger person is incapable of giving consent. That is a legal fiction. It's untrue. It's over-inclusive and under-inclusive. It's a bad law.

-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--toned down for rational debate.

[Nikia]

74. When the adult is in a position of power/respect

Such sex involves coercion by the nature of the relationship. Many middle schoolers would never say no to any teacher whether or not he or she is attractive to them. A teacher who has sex with such a young person is using them. The young teen often does not realize that an adult, who they trust, would just use them for sexual gratification.

[RazzleDazzle]

79. Exactly. Nor would they want to "disappoint" the parish priest, or

grandpa, or mom's boyfriend whose presence has otherwise made the family a little better off financially, perhaps. (Hmph, there was a case like that -- better financial circumstances -- on Oprah just a week or two ago.) Or the really nice neighbor who takes them to get cool things they like and couldn't otherwise afford, etc., etc., etc.

There is an innate, irreversible, irreconcilable power imbalance favoring the adult that forever elimates any possibility that the child involved can give fully informed consent from a position of full agency. It just can't be so. Period.

Now, that might not be so terrible were it not for the FACT of the horrible psychological damage that results from such alliances. This will vary from child to child (some more traumatized than others, perhaps), but it's totally inevitable AND you can't allow all children to be abused just because SOME children might take it better than others. It is ALWAYS abuse, it is ALWAYS damaging to some degree (and the exact degree is never predictable), it is ALWAYS "using" the child (which is always abuse), and it's ALWAYS wrong.

You cannot justify it under any circumstances. Not in good conscience, anyway.

So, Laelth, I guess the answer is yes, you support NAMBLA.

[Laelth]

81. I had to Google NAMBLA to figure out what it was.

Shows my ignorance, I suppose.

I wouldn't say I "support" that group, per se, but I do agree with their position regarding statutory rape. If someone's going to be thrown in prison, I think the state should have to prove lack of consent. I have no problem with a wide disparity in age and intellectual development serving as evidence of lack of consent, but the age of 18 is arbitrary and irrelevant in making this determination. I think the state should have to carry a heavier burden before they can slap a defendant with a felony.

-Laelth

[northzax]

36. funny enough, when I was a teacher

I had students (female, by the way, since I am male) basically offer themselves to me. does that mean that it would have been perfectly ok for me to bang a couple of them? sure, they were 15, and I was 24, but they wanted to, right?

or is it different for boys?

[Laelth]

44. Lots of things that are "not right" are not crimes.

You're right to suggest that there's a double standard here, but I don't like the idea that each and every act that is "not right" ought to be a crime. I don't want to live in a police state, and I get very uncomfortable with the government regulating peoples' sex lives. Nothing could be more private. I say, keep the government out of it if the behavior is consensual.

-Laelth

[architect359]

52. sadly, it is perceived differently for boys. n/t

[atreides1]

21. One Question

Will he feel the same about testifying at the civil trial against the school board that his mother will in all probability file?

I think not, considering that his testimony might net him a large cash award!!!!

Sex isn't innately evil, bad, and harmful, sex with a minor is against the law!!!! How much more clearer does that have to be?

[patcox2]

34. Malum prohibitum, not malum in se. An arbitrary cultural idiosyncracy

This slavish bloodlust over the violation of a law which is nothing but an arbitrary cultural idiosyncracy, it amazes me.

Go on, get your pitchforks and torches, chase the monster.

[High Plains]

39. Hey, I used that "pitchforks and torches" line yesterday

in a thread on this same topic. I was basically making the same argument as you. I got called everything from a NAMBLA member to pervert to a creep, and several people volunteered that they wouldn't want their children around me. (Of course, I wouldn't want to hang out with people like that or their children, so it's all okay.)

It is amazing how emotional people get when discussing teenagers and sex.

[RazzleDazzle]

46. Way to mischaracterize

it's not "teenagers and sex" it's "teenagers and adults having sex," and there are laws against that for a reason: surprisingly enough, we as a society actual value protecting our children more than sex.

[Bassic]

62. Hey that's nothing.

About a week ago a poster labelled me as a sex offender, basically because I would not say that women are better than men. Apparently, looking for equality and equity between the sexes is now linked to being a sex offender.

I just couldn't belive my eyes.

[1monster]

31. True. Been there, had that done to me. The reaction of law enforcement

was far more traumatic than the incident that happened when I was five years old. In fact, because it was an isolated incident, I probably would never have remembered it at all except for the aftermath of the retarded sixteen-year-old farm hand feeling guilty and confessing.

Children and teens need to be handled with extreme care in such cases and law enforcemnt is not known for its sensitivity.

As to the charges being dropped against the teacher, well, she was sentenced to three years house arrest for having sexual intercourse with the same boy in a different county. She will also have to register as a sex offender and surrender her teaching certification, as well as wear an ankle bracelet at various times after her house arrest is over.

She's only getting a slap on the wrist compared to the offense, but at least she is not getting off scott free.

[Laelth]

25. In response to your question, no.

A judge can not find a prosecutor in contempt for willful non-prosecution. Prosecutors are, normally, elected officials, and they have almost complete discretion over what cases they do and do not prosecute. If the citizens of the county dislike his decision, the residents can vote the prosecutor out of office, but the court can not force the state (the prosecution) to prosecute a case.

-Laelth

[lumberjack_jeff]

42. The prosecutor is an elected official

You don't get re-elected by sending attractive blondes to jail.

Double standard? Uh, yes.

How can one live in this country without megadoses of cynicism?

[saigon68]

2. HEARD AROUND THE COURT HOUSE TODAY

I wish she would molest me

[Jersey Devil]

35. Here's another hot pic of her

[LisaL]

61. Yes, she is good looking.

But what exactly do you think her being attractive should have to do with her having to pay for her crimes? Do you perhaps think that instead of presenting evidence at trials, we should have jurors give the defendants points for attractiveness? And then sentence the defendants accordingly?

[madmark]

4. where the **** was she when I was in junior high school?

[Karmageddon]

9. I was thinking the exact same thing.

When I was 14, I would have considered her having sex with me to be the exact opposite of abuse. I would have called it going above and beyond classroom teaching to furthur my education. Testify against her? Heck, I'd have nominated her for teacher of the year.

(that's just me though. Just me, and every other male I've talked to about this topic).

[FiveGoodMen]

26. Count me in.

No way would I have felt traumatized!

[KansDem]

28. Me, too!

She certainly wasn't in woodshop or band. I think I would have gladly exchanged my nifty bookrack and the thrill of playing "Highlights from 'My Fair Lady,'" for an evening under her private tutelage!

[Bassic]

63. I'm with you too.

So, are we incurable perverts now?

[gizmo1979]

30. I wasn't going to say it.

Man she's hot!I promise I wouldn't have told either.

[Javaman]

32. Oh come on...

remember back when you were 14, you are hot for teacher and she returns the favor, I think it would take every ounce of my will power not to blab to my friends what happened.

Yes, the teacher is hot. :)

[gizmo1979]

41. To my friends that's

a different story I was thinking mom and dad.

[Stand and Fight]

5. How utterly foolish...

The charges should not have been dropped against her. She should do time in jail just as any man would have to do if the roles and sexes were reversed.

[RazzleDazzle]

49. Oh, I dunno. I saw a headline 'bout a college prof serving NO TIME

for sexual assault.

I didn't catch the details, but just goes to show you how off-base you are on your "as any man would have to" allegation, doesn't it? In general, women get stiffer sentences for ANYthing they do that men do more often.

[tatertop]

7. Can she keep the book and movie royalties? Will she play herself?

Will she co-host a game show any time soon?
Will she laugh all the way to the bank?

[bluestateguy]

8. Bigoted

If she was a he the book would have been thrown at him, and rightfully so. I also think that she was helped by the fact that she is attractive. She does not look like the stereotypical child molester with the big glasses, crooked teeth and awkward appearance.

[bainz]

19. unless the guy was in ohio . . .

No Jail:
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/5492395/detail.html

Early Release:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/wews/20060308/lo_wews/3317418

[GoddessOfGuinness]

70. And if she was unattractive she'd go to jail

And all the above posters who are having wet dreams would be screaming bloody murder.

She should be locked up and added to the list of offenders, just like anybody else.

[seemunkee]

10. She already plead guilty in another county

There was a deal in the home county where the boy lived. The mother and prosecutor in that county were satisfied. The judge in the second county wouldn't hear of a plea deal even at the insistence of the boys mother and prosecutor. Dropping the charges was the only way not to drag the boy into a trial no one but the judge wanted.

[mainegreen]

11. I wonder how many of the women involved in these incidents were abused...

themselves as children? I wouldn't be suprised if most of them were.

[MadMaddie]

15. In her press conference she claimed she had a mental disorder...

this case will impact other real cases that really do have mental disorders.


She should be prosecuted, she was a teacher and she had the trust of the state, the parents and the children...she broke that trust!!

[LisaL]

59. Yes, poor thing is bipolar, according to her.

How exactly does being bipolar turns someone into a child molester-sure beats me. That woman seems to be incapable of remorse for what she had done. People send their kids to school for education, not to be molested by teachers. And I see the same complete double standard from many posters on this very thread, who claim they would be so happy if she molested them. I bet if she was not an attractive woman-they would never say the same thing. So, WTF is it now-attractive people should be treated different from the rest even after they commit crimes?

[superconnected]

17. This woman is psychologically ill,

and she's dangerous.

Sex offenders are typically repeat offenders.

What if she goes for pre-pubescent boys next. What if she goes after another 14yo.

If an adult guy teacher ever got off because of his looks and people felt the girl should be considered "lucky", that he'd do it with her, I would be screaming bloody outrage.

I think this woman should be handled the same as any other sex offender wether people feel the victim may have liked it or not. The victim is a child.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. There is a double standard.

Of course, there is a double standard.

There are two very different sexes. For males, any opportunity for sex is just that -- an opportunity. I have never in my life heard of a guy being forced into hetero sex against his will. It's part of our biological wiring.

And for clarification, just how is she dangerous? Is she going to waylay young boys and force them to service her at knifepoint?

What she did was inappropriate and she certainly should be fired, and get treatment for her bi-polar.

But set aside the hysteria. Statutory rape is not rape.

[NashVegas]

24. She Does Not Get Off Scott-Free

She has pleaded guilty to some of the charges and will be penalized for them.

[LisaL]

60. If that was a man, even a good looking one, no one would say

his 14 year old student should feel lucky for being molested by him.
If the female teacher was not attractive, no one would say her male student should feel lucky because he was molested by her. I guess there really is such a thing as being too pretty to go to jail.

[Mythsaje]

18. I hate these stories...

Just hate 'em. I have to agree with my wife that these teachers cross a line that shouldn't be crossed. They have authority over the students and it's too easily abused.

I don't like it, considering that I would've jumped at the chance myself when I was fourteen. Hell, I did, but it wasn't a teacher. These cases make me very uncomfortable all the way around.

I'll bet most of the males in her classes had a crush on her. Assuming she wasn't a bitch, I know I would have.

[MindPilot]

22. Put the age and gender issues aside

Yes, if she were a he, there be no question about doing time in the big house. And yes, any 14 year old would like to do his hot teacher, but as Tom Leykis pointed out just because you want to doesn't mean it isn't harmful.

The real issue that has been completely glossed over is that no-one should be having sex with someone they have power over. Boss-employee, officer-enlisted, teacher-student, landlord-tenant, pastor-congregant all wrong regardless of consent or the age thereof.

The problem is more that she abused her authority than who she did it with. And the excuse that she did it during a bi-polar episode? Puh-lees, if your mental illness causes you to have sex with a student, then perhaps teaching is not the career path you should be taking.

[BadGimp]

23. I see a Hustler spread is in this womens' future

And I'd pay to see the pixs.

That vacant souless look in her eyes is both priceless and scarry.

But that said...

[RazzleDazzle]

47. I hate the sexism here

[The Straight Story]

51. How is that sexism?

People in general like to look at nice looking people (which is why no one looks at me in my journal, so I am older and ugly...such is life).

If it was a guy doing this that looked like tom cruise or johnny depp I could see some folks here (gay and straight) saying similar things.

I was molested when I was 8, by the time I was 13 I was pretty well aware of sex and had desires. Age (for most part) above mine was not a factor in desire. Sex was not something I related to on an age scale for women older than me. In this sense I can see where people are coming from....

On the other hand, I cannot really fathom having sex with someone in their young teens now and shudder at the thought of my daughter having some man in his late 20's hitting on her for the sole purpose of sexual gratification.

But back to the main point- I don't think it is sexism totally, but I do often see a double standard. If a man was the one having sex with a young girl he is seen as a pervert, when a woman does it seems to be ok by many. So in that case - yeah - I see sexism.

[MindPilot]

76. It's sexism because Raz says it is. That's all you need to know.

You see, on DU, it is perfectly OK for women to make sexist comments about men. Men on the other hand must know their place and never ever look at a woman's body.

[RazzleDazzle]

77. Look all you want

Admire and lust over.

Just don't make it public commentary. Don't debase every damn woman you see by making her into a sex object for your fantasies, and doing it in public.

I wouldn't mind bigoted remarks about men being excluded from DU if the sexist remarks about women were excluded. Doesn't bother me one way or the other. But let's be REAL clear. As I've said before: I'll give a damn about what you erroneously call "sexism" against men when men are dying purely because they're men, as women are dying every day due to the epidemic of various types of violence against women.

When women as a class are seen as entirely and totally vulnerable to being objectified, demeaned and degraded by reducing them to sex objects, then their rights of sovereignty over their own bodies and even their very LIVES are also put at risk. Sexiam of this type creates an environment in which women are not safe because women aren't any better than "things," and sexual (degraded sexual) things at that.

I KNOW you don't get it, don't understand it, think I'm crazy. I also know that 99% of the reason for that is that you don't want to. If you DID want to, it would mean give up the "privilege" of drooling over various women, and then demeaning them by commenting about it in public. Way too high a price for you to pay, only to benefit women -- who don't mean much anyway, just tits and ass and stuff meant for men's pleaasure.

[ButterflyBlood]

56. Can't happen

The judge in the previous case banned her from profiting in any way from her notierity from this.

[The_Casual_Observer]

37. She literally must be crazy. With looks like that she could

have hooked a big rock star or billionaire someplace.

[RazzleDazzle]

48. Or maybe been prominent herself. Ya think?

Not just hook some prominent man?

I HATE THE SEXISM HERE.

[fun n serious]

53. Oh Wow

I can't believe the responses here. I agree with you.

[MindPilot]

71. You don't hate sexism; you embrace it

What you hate is being slapped in the face with reality.

[RazzleDazzle]

78. And your strong defense of sexism speaks volumes

In fact, currently you're about the biggest defender of sexism that I can think of, aside from DU's pornographers of course. That takes it all the way over to misogynism. Congratulations.

Oh, and just so you know: One of the key things that the Dominant Culture (i.e., white males) like to do to enforce their dominance (or try to), is interpret the reality of oppressed groups and individuals for us. Thanks, but no thanks. I have a perfectly good and viable understanding of what is and is not reality -- YOU don't need to try to exercise your white male privilege by informing me YOUR idea of what it is and should be for me.

[Nikia]

38. Teachers who do stuff like this need to be punished

Regardless of the gender of the student, students are vunerable. We must also remember that in elementary school, students are indoctorinated to trust teachers and do what they say. Because of a teachers position he or she has a much better chance of pursuing students sexually than adults who are not in their positions. A teacher who has sex with students is always wrong regardless of the circumstances.

[Finder]

65. I agree she should be fired.

I just don't think she should be labeled or prosecuted as a violent criminal.(rapist or child molester)

I also do not think the law should be changed. Each case should be looked at by the authorities.

[Nikia]

73. Should adults who are attracted to teenagers enter into teaching?

I am sure that there are those who both act and don't act on their attraction who enter into teaching primarily for that reason. If the worst thing that could happen to the teacher is getting fired, why shouldn't we expect more people with this motivation to enter into teaching?
Children are indoctorinated to trust teachers and do what they say. Middle school students are in the vunerable position of going through changing hormones and still seeing teachers in this way.
Any middle school teacher could have sex with most of his/her students if he/she wanted to. Children need to be protected. Teachers and prospective students need to know that there are serious penalties for this.
With other adults, there might be some leeway in stautory rape, but any teacher, coach, clergy, youth leader, or anyone else who has a position of trust role in a youth's life should always be punished. Such sex involves coercion by the nature of the relationship to the youth.

[geniph]

40. Teachers should NOT have sex with students

Besides the issue of breaking the law - and I don't give a shit whether you AGREE with the law or not, statutory rape is AGAINST the LAW - no person in a position of that kind of authority should have sex with the persons over whom they have that authority.

Psychiatrists aren't allowed to have sex with patients.
A lawyer shouldn't have sex with their client.
A manager shouldn't have sex with their employees.
A cop shouldn't have sex with someone who calls them for help.
TEACHERS SHOULDN'T HAVE SEX WITH STUDENTS. I do not care whether or not the students want it, the fact is, it's against the law, and teachers shouldn't go around breaking that law. In a lot of cases, that law is there for a damned good reason.

Not every single person who's ever engaged in incest is forever psychologically scarred by it. Does that mean it's okay, and we should encourage it? I would venture to say not only no, but HELL no.

It doesn't MATTER whether or not the teacher is 'hot.' Teachers shouldn't fuck students.

Oh, and most adults understand that 14-year-olds, no matter how physically mature, are not emotionally equipped to deal with the consequences of adult sex. That's why it isn't legal to have sex with them if you're an adult. They cannot give informed consent. Yes, there's a minority of young kids who might be emotionally mature enough to deal with having sex with an adult, but for most, it is very confusing. And a 14-year-old should not be put in the possible position of becoming a parent, getting a venereal disease, or just dealing with the emotional baggage of a quite-possibly-very-neurotic woman.

[WindRavenX]

50. thank you

I will echo what another poster said earlier:

I hate the sexism here. Really, it's bad.

[ChoralScholar]

55. sorry... I didn't read far enough down....

I got pissed off and needed to reply. Wasn't trying to copy you... .seriously. :)

[Solly Mack]

57. I'll sign on to this

[MindPilot]

72. I agree with you.

I posted a similar comment upthread.

[ChoralScholar]

54. Regardless of whether you think

it was right or wrong, or whatever you think about the semantics of the term 'statutory rape', one thing hasn't been discussed here.

There is a trust that parents place in a school and its teachers. Is it too much to ask that the teachers not have sex with my kid? It is a trust that should not be broken, as there are other things at stake besides the act itself.

In a completely different situation - older girl, younger boy, who met wherever... sure, go ahead, boink her, and accept the responsibility and the legal issues associated with it.

But she is(was) a teacher, first and foremost, and that is a line that should never be crossed. (see also Doctor/Patient, Lawyer/Client, Manager/Subordinate, et al)

Even if he were the laziest/dumbest kid on earth, and had repeated the 8th grade 10 times, and they were the same age, she STILL shouldn't have done it, because she is in a position of trust and authority over him.

[Voltaire99]

58. Question

Is there any real evidence to suggest that female teacher abuse cases involving male students didn't occur with such frequency in the past?

And if so, anyone care to offer their thoughts on why these cases are becoming more common?

[Finder]

64. Has always occurred.

Older women and young men, that is. Teachers, male and female have always been whispered about. Read Plato for a bit of insight.

I think it appears to happen more often these days since it is used as fodder by the right wing in their quest to bring down teacher unions and secular education. It was similarily done to the Catholic church the past decade. The sheeple will want to yank their children from public school and avoid private Catholic schools which will leave homeschooling or christian schooling as the only options for them.

[Nikia]

75. This might sound odd since I am in favor of higher penalties

During the early 80's an older female relative of mine was accused and tried for sex with one of her students. I think that he was only 15, although the penalties that she received were somewhat light so he might have been 16 (age of consent in Ohio). She was fired, lost her teaching license, had to stay away from the boy, was prohibited from leading any youth activity (including Sunday school and youth choir which she had done), and got probation. She was in her upper 40's and not particuliarly attractive but the boy didn't have a good family life and seemed to enjoy her extra attention. She was having problems in her marriage at the time, although they ended up staying married and are still married. Yes, I think she should have served some time.
The case never received more than local attention. I don't think most teacher/student cases did receive more attention than that. I guess the national media now wants to present "Women can be child molesters too." If we are talking about men, I would say almost every school system has a male teacher having sex with students every five years.

[Robbins]

66. My thoughts

why Is It that a 14 year old If he commits murder can be charged as a adult but can't consent to
sex. If sex Is consental no charges should be filled. Why not just fire a Teacher who does this
Instead.

[JPZenger]

67. Trial and Publicity Much More Harmful to Kid than the sex

I am sure the trial and the resulting publicity was much more psycologically and socially harmful to the kid than the sex was.

[Bridget Burke]

69. What if she were a priest?

A handsome, young priest who had a consensual relationship with an adolescent male? Well--there's that "age of consent" law that the priest would be breaking. I think he SHOULD be charged.

Quite a few of the priestly child molesters actually had relationships with adolescents. Yes, they committed crimes. Yes, the Diocese should have reported them to the authorities. I doubt any parent would let somebody else "handle" molestation of their pre-adolescent child--but I can see parents wanting to gloss over pseudo-consensual sex involving their teenager.

It would be too cynical to predict a later civil case being filed against the diocese--or school district--which might result in a payoff.

[Kailassa]

80. Boys are every bit as vulnerable as girls.

And society's macho expectations of them can make it harder for them to cope with inner hurt. Many girls, when they are hurt, can cry on someone's shoulder over it, and have their girlfriends rally round sympathetically. But what happens if a boy is sensitive, gets hurt, and needs to cry?

My concern here is sexism - sexism against boys. When I discovered, years ago now, that one of my sons had been molested by a paedophile, one of the things I did was find a counseling centre for victims of sexual assault, and try to get him in to see them. They were quite willing to give me counseling, because, as my son had been abused, I must be traumatized. However ... and I don't blame anyone who doesn't believe this, i couldn't believe it either and spoke to the person running the centre to have it confirmed, ... they would not give my son counseling because he is male, and males are supposedly the problem.

Once somebody is in a position of authority over another, any sexual contact between them should be avoided, and it is up to the one in authority to do the avoiding. Kids' lusts are waking up at that age, their hormones are raging, and many are bound to start experimenting together. That can be healthy for them if they know what sex is about and understand the ramifications, so long as they are with people who don't have a hold over them. But any teacher who takes advantage of this should never be allowed to teach again.

As for the guys in this thread who say they'd have loved to have been in this boy's shoes, or whatever it was that he was in, they could be quite right. Perhaps they, personally, would not have been damaged by this. There are girls who say the same, who always wish some male teacher had done a little extra "tuition." But missing out on being screwed by the teacher never hurt anyone, and there are kids, both male and female, who will have serious issues later after an affair of this type.