Man Labeled a Sex Offender for Consentual Sex With Girlfriend, Then 15, Now His Wife

[CHS_CG]

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=4400537&page=1


There are 3 pages to this story.. these two happen to be my friends and they are wonderful people. Please take a few mintues to read this story.. or the episode will be on ABC tonight.

If mods would allow feel free to post comments on here and let me know if anybody has dealt with this stuff before. Hopefully with this story airing maybe it will help get the laws changed for these people who are not really monsters.

[Emerson1]

The story about the middle school kids is worse, it's down the page some on the left side.

[injuredinmelee]

the law is the law. If you let one person violate it then you have to also make exceptions for everyone and then whats the point of laws at all?

[PHS Wildcats]

It's the law and I understand that..... but I saw that all the time when I was in school and two couples, the girl 19 and the guy 14 and the guy 18 and girl 16 are married now. So It's a hard law.

[lostaussie]

be an 18 year old senior with a 16 year old soph. girlfriend. many of us have been there. I know i was at one time. bad things can happen if her family does not like you.

[j_dog]

True the law is the law. But when you have a rotten law, it is time we all put pressure on the legislature to get it changed. And as written, it is rotten law.

And for men like this one who have already been harmed, somehow the system throught the courts and the governor's office should be issuing some pardons.

I know a young man who was in essentially the same situation. He had to give up a prospective teaching career and will have to deal with the "sex registry" problem for the rest of his life. He too did the plea bargain even though he maintained he was innocent.

Law is the law? Having kids names like this on the registry only makes a mockery of the whole list and makes us take more lightly the people on the list who really should be on the list.

[Emerson1]

Or it should be only a certain number of years on the list. For minor offenses like that maybe 5 years or however long, then lifetime for worse stuff

[j_dog]

Originally posted by Emerson1
Or it should be only a certain number of years on the list. For minor offenses like that maybe 5 years or however long, then lifetime for worse stuff
Absolutely. Something. Anything that might have some common sense to it.

[injuredinmelee]

by changing this law you take away the protection of the true victims. You mae it a his word against her word thing and that isnt fair for either one in non consensual statutory rape.

[SintonFan]

T, the law is the law. Hopefully the Judge will be fair to them.

[JasperDog94]

Originally posted by injuredinmelee
by changing this law you take away the protection of the true victims. You mae it a his word against her word thing and that isnt fair for either one in non consensual statutory rape. Big difference between consensual and non consensual.

[piratebg]

I was 18 and my wife, then girlfriend, was 15 when we started seeing each other. I was a senior and she was a freshman. Her mom wasn't terrible big on me in the beginning so I asked my father, a police officer, what would/could happen to me. He told me that the DA for our county wouldn't even look at the case if the difference in age was 3 years or less. My wife and I are 2yrs and 11mo apart in age. I barely missed the mark. :D

[Phil C]

Sometimes the law needs to use a little mercy and common sense. You must look at the overall situation and circumstance. More victims of society. :(

[CHS_CG]

I understand the law is the law but that is a poor defense. Just because the law is the law doesnt mean the law is right or fair. I am not saying the law needs to be changed and let the real monsters walk our streets but that each case needs to be looked at. How would you feel if this were you... would you think the law is the law. I doubt it.

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by piratebg
I was 18 and my wife, then girlfriend, was 15 when we started seeing each other. I was a senior and she was a freshman. Her mom wasn't terrible big on me in the beginning so I asked my father, a police officer, what would/could happen to me. He told me that the DA for our county wouldn't even look at the case if the difference in age was 3 years or less. My wife and I are 2yrs and 11mo apart in age. I barely missed the mark. :D

Same way with my son!

Those of you who are saying, "the law is the law", I couldn't disagree with more!!

Some "laws" carry too big of a scope with them....like this one!

IMO, the law should be studied and ammended.

A friend of my kids went to prison for 2 years.

His crime? Believing his girlfriend was 17 when she was actually 15. He was 19. Her parents LET them date until she told them she was pregnant....and her dad (a police officer) filed charges against him.

He didn't get a second chance, he spent his time and guess who showed up at my house the other day?

The guy, and the same girlfriend (who is NOW almost 18) AND her little year old boy who was born while Justin was away....from a different dad!

Hell yeah the law needs to be changed. The punishment shouldn't be the same for rapists and child molesters as it is a couple who are together and don't fit into that 3 year limit.

There is nothing any of you can say that will change my mind about this.....I lived it!!

[Phil C]

I had a cousin that got married right after he got out of high school at age 18. He got a job right away and has been working since even though he will be retiring soon. The girl he married was 14 at the time. :eek:
Some in the family didn't think it would last. They have been married now almost 50 years and have raised two sons. It looks like the marriage is going to last. :)

[pirate4state]

Court appointed lawyer advised him to take the plea. Wonder what a jury would have done with the case?

It's a terrible situation and in a perfect world we'd be able to judge these kind of cases on a "case to case" scenario, but this isn't a perfect world and that's not gonna happen.

Should the law be changed? Probably. I hope they don't give up on their plight to try to make this happen.

I'm sure I'll get crucified for this, but it is MY OPINION and I'm entitled to express it and if you don't like it, then too bad!

The biggest problem I have with this case is that this girl's mother couldn't handle her 15 year old daughter??!! I know that as parents you can't be with your child 24/7, but once she found out what was happening - instead of taking her to Planned Parenthood and getting her BC she should have whooped her ass and grounded her until she was 18!! What kind of message does that send a 15 year? I'll tell you what it would tell ME: IT'S OKAY TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR 19 YEAR OLD BF!! :doh: Then when they get into a fight (are you kidding me) she goes to the police??!!! :crazy1: I could go on, but I think I'll just stop my rant here b/c I feel myself getting worked up over strangers! :eek: :doh:

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
Court appointed lawyer advised him to take the plea. Wonder what a jury would have done with the case?

It's a terrible situation and in a perfect world we'd be able to judge these kind of cases on a "case to case" scenario, but this isn't a perfect world and that's not gonna happen.

Should the law be changed? Probably. I hope they don't give up on their plight to try to make this happen.

I'm sure I'll get crucified for this, but it is MY OPINION and I'm entitled to express it and if you don't like it, then too bad!

The biggest problem I have with this case is that this girl's mother couldn't handle her 15 year old daughter??!! I know that as parents you can't be with your child 24/7, but once she found out what was happening - instead of taking her to Planned Parenthood and getting her BC she should have whooped her ass and grounded her until she was 18!! What kind of message does that send a 15 year? I'll tell you what it would tell ME: IT'S OKAY TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR 19 YEAR OLD BF!! :doh: Then when they get into a fight (are you kidding me) she goes to the police??!!! :crazy1: I could go on, but I think I'll just stop my rant here b/c I feel myself getting worked up over strangers! :eek: :doh:

AMEN my SD sista!!!

That was beautimous!!!:clap: :clap:

[CHS_CG]

Originally posted by pirate4state
Court appointed lawyer advised him to take the plea. Wonder what a jury would have done with the case?

It's a terrible situation and in a perfect world we'd be able to judge these kind of cases on a "case to case" scenario, but this isn't a perfect world and that's not gonna happen.

Should the law be changed? Probably. I hope they don't give up on their plight to try to make this happen.

I'm sure I'll get crucified for this, but it is MY OPINION and I'm entitled to express it and if you don't like it, then too bad!

The biggest problem I have with this case is that this girl's mother couldn't handle her 15 year old daughter??!! I know that as parents you can't be with your child 24/7, but once she found out what was happening - instead of taking her to Planned Parenthood and getting her BC she should have whooped her ass and grounded her until she was 18!! What kind of message does that send a 15 year? I'll tell you what it would tell ME: IT'S OKAY TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR 19 YEAR OLD BF!! :doh: Then when they get into a fight (are you kidding me) she goes to the police??!!! :crazy1: I could go on, but I think I'll just stop my rant here b/c I feel myself getting worked up over strangers! :eek: :doh:

I couldnt agree more! Her mom knew she did the wrong from the get go. I also believe after Nikki was sent to hospital to have a rape test done on her and there were no signs of rape they should have listened to Melissa and dropped the charges. For 7 years Frank couldnt go with his kids to the park... pick them up from day care, he couldnt even take his kids to McDonalds and get them a happy meal.. its awful. If her mom was going to use it against her then she shouldnt have put Nikki on birth control.

[gatordaze]

Originally posted by Emerson1
The story about the middle school kids is worse, it's down the page some on the left side.

I heard my kids talking about "slap ass Friday" just this past week! I had them read the aricle and they are definately freaked out. Ass slapping in Celina just took a hit as I am sure my kids will spread the word!

[Panther One]

Whether they're in love or not, does any good ever come from an 18 year old banging a 15 year old? Do teenagers really need to engage is sexual activity to express their love for each other. Or are they just looking to get off because it feels good? The law is fine. If you don't want to be charged with rape, keep it in your pants. It's a pretty simple solution if you ask me. Perhaps they can put a time frame on the punishment, so that you don't pay for a stupid mistake your whole life, but the law should remain in place.

[CHSfan]

Originally posted by gatordaze
I heard my kids talking about "slap ass Friday" just this past week! I had them read the aricle and they are definately freaked out. Ass slapping in Celina just took a hit as I am sure my kids will spread the word!
OMG we did that too in like 8th grade i think!

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
The biggest problem I have with this case is that this girl's mother couldn't handle her 15 year old daughter??!! I know that as parents you can't be with your child 24/7, but once she found out what was happening - instead of taking her to Planned Parenthood and getting her BC she should have whooped her ass and grounded her until she was 18!! What kind of message does that send a 15 year? I'll tell you what it would tell ME: IT'S OKAY TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR 19 YEAR OLD BF!! :doh: Then when they get into a fight (are you kidding me) she goes to the police??!!! :crazy1: I could go on, but I think I'll just stop my rant here b/c I feel myself getting worked up over strangers! :eek: :doh:
:eek: :eek: :eek: Okay, I said almost word for word the EXACT same thing to lhpd on the way home from Gatesville.

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by Panther One
Whether they're in love or not, does any good ever come from an 18 year old banging a 15 year old? Do teenagers really need to engage is sexual activity to express their love for each other. Or are they just looking to get off because it feels good? The law is fine. If you don't want to be charged with rape, keep it in your pants. It's a pretty simple solution if you ask me. Perhaps they can put a time frame on the punishment, so that you don't pay for a stupid mistake your whole life, but the law should remain in place.

Ah...if only it was that simple!! My son dated a girl 2-1/2 years younger than he was for 2 years before she all the sudden became "illegal" when he turned 18.

No one is saying that the law should be dropped from the record books...it just should be amended and not the same law for rapist and pedophiles vs. horny kids and consensual sex.

I have 4 boys and I have seen A LOT...often times it's that young "innocent" girl that is the aggressor!!

[rgn4fb]

The reason the law is in place is to protect those that cannot make a reasonable decision. The law states that children under the age of 17 do not have the mind set to consent so therefore there is NEVER a consensual sexual act with a minor. What needs to happen is parents need to let there children know the law. If they choose to violate the law anyways then so be it. The consequences are what they are. Is driving 31 in a 30 a crime. yes it is and I know it is. If I am given a ticket for it even though I feel it does no harm, I have to pay the fine. I broke the law. My insurance may go up. The best thing is for kids to know what they are accountable for. However, it is not govts. responsibility to tell you every single law. Ignorance of the law is not defense of it. Abstinance is the best answer for all. If you say kids will be kids, then oh well, pay the consequences.

[BreckTxLonghorn]

I thought Texas had the Romeo/Juliet law to prevent this from happening?

Haven't read the article yet; just the comments here. What am I missing?

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by BreckTxLonghorn
I thought Texas had the Romeo/Juliet law to prevent this from happening?

Haven't read the article yet; just the comments here. What am I missing?

What's the Romeo/Juliet law?

[pirate4state]

Originally posted by Ranger Mom
What's the Romeo/Juliet law?

The 3 year deal. 19 year old with a 16 year old; 18 year old with 15 year old. I would ask my boss, but he just left! I don't think Texas has this law. It protects these kids from being charged with stat rape in some states if the younger one says that it was consensual.

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by BreckTxLonghorn
I thought Texas had the Romeo/Juliet law to prevent this from happening?

Haven't read the article yet; just the comments here. What am I missing?

19 and 15

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
The 3 year deal. 19 year old with a 16 year old; 18 year old with 15 year old. I would ask my boss, but he just left! I don't think Texas has this law. It protects these kids from being charged with stat rape in some states if the younger one says that it was consensual.

Yeah they have it as long as the youngest is over 14.

This was a 4 year difference though in this article!

[BreckTxLonghorn]

I thought it was more than a 3 year cushion, i.e. if they were in high school at the same time, its legal.

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by BreckTxLonghorn
I thought it was more than a 3 year cushion, i.e. if they were in high school at the same time, its legal.

Recent changes in the laws governing consensual sex between minors or an adult 18 years of age and a minor 14-16 years of age have acknowledged that this intimacy is not the same as molestation. The new laws, named “Romeo and Juliet laws” after Shakespeare’s tragic teenage lovers, attempt to correct overly harsh penalties and prison terms meted out over the years. In 2007, these laws went into effect in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana and Texas.


Romeo/Juliet law (http://womensissues.about.com/od/datingandsex/a/Romeo_and_Julie.htm)

[pirate4state]

My boss said "JUST DON'T DO IT!!" :D

[SWMustang]

If she ain't thirty - we ain't gettin' dirty

that's my motto

[CenTexSports]

When my son was 16 (just finished his sophmore year) his 19 year old girlfriend (just graduated) somehow got in the motherly way. They did not get married because she was going to go to A&M and wanted to qualify for financial aid.

As of today:


1) They have been married two years.
2) She has graduated from A&M and is trying to get into either a PA program or a RN program.
3) She works at an allergy clinic in CS.
4) He works as an IT specialist for A&M Health Sciences at Scott & White (where the medical school is).
5) They had a second baby last week.
6) They are going to DisneyWorld in July.

Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.

[Bandera YaYa]

Originally posted by CHS_CG
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=4400537&page=1


....these two happen to be my friends

...of course they are......:evilgrin:

[Ranger Mom]

I saw the previews to the story that will be on 20/20 tonight.

"The age of consent"

Evidently this story has gotten LOTS of attention!!

[Bandera YaYa]

...your advice is absurd....I think RM and CHS_CG would have to agree with me on that.....if you had kids you would ground them until they were 18????? good luck with that one....




Originally posted by pirate4state


The biggest problem I have with this case is that this girl's mother couldn't handle her 15 year old daughter??!! I know that as parents you can't be with your child 24/7, but once she found out what was happening - instead of taking her to Planned Parenthood and getting her BC she should have whooped her ass and grounded her until she was 18!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[pirate4state]

Originally posted by Bandera YaYa
...your advice is absurd....I think RM and CHS_CG would have to agree with me on that.....if you had kids you would ground them until they were 18????? good luck with that one....



:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

:doh: :doh: OMG it's just an expression. Did you believe your parents when they told you were grounded for life??? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
:doh: :doh: OMG it's just an expression. Did you believe your parents when they told you were grounded for life??? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I knew what you meant!!:p

[Bandera YaYa]

Sorry, could have sworn you had just gotten thru saying you were gonna give us your opinion....guess you meant something else...oh wait.....you're the one who once told me "say what you mean and mean what you say"!


Originally posted by pirate4state
:doh: :doh: OMG it's just an expression. Did you believe your parents when they told you were grounded for life??? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :confused:

[Maroon87]

I think someone is out of Motrin...:thinking:

[Bandera YaYa]

NO worry....just passing thru....I briefly forgot the mentality on here.......:kiss:

[Maroon87]

Originally posted by Bandera YaYa
NO worry....just passing thru....I briefly forgot the mentality on here.......:kiss:

Which is?

[AP Panther Fan]

Originally posted by Bandera YaYa
NO worry....just passing thru....I briefly forgot the mentality on here.......:kiss:


See ya...:wave: :wave: :wave:

Another hit and run....

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by AP Panther Fan
See ya...:wave: :wave: :wave:

Another hit and run....

You never fail to make me laugh!:p

[CHS_CG]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2820/glendaspillskt6.jpg

Refill anybody?!?!

[CHS_CG]

Originally posted by Bandera YaYa
...your advice is absurd....I think RM and CHS_CG would have to agree with me on that.....if you had kids you would ground them until they were 18????? good luck with that one....



:rolleyes: :rolleyes:


I actually wouldnt let it go so far as to put my daughter on birth control to give her the message "sex with your 19 year old boyfriend is ok" and then go file charges on him after we got into a fight. As for grounding her... She would be grounded but then again we live in a different time than you did when you were raising your kids.

[CHS_CG]

Originally posted by AP Panther Fan
See ya...:wave: :wave: :wave:

Another hit and run....

More like duck and cover

[Macarthur]

Originally posted by rgn4fb
The reason the law is in place is to protect those that cannot make a reasonable decision. The law states that children under the age of 17 do not have the mind set to consent so therefore there is NEVER a consensual sexual act with a minor. What needs to happen is parents need to let there children know the law. If they choose to violate the law anyways then so be it. The consequences are what they are. Is driving 31 in a 30 a crime. yes it is and I know it is. If I am given a ticket for it even though I feel it does no harm, I have to pay the fine. I broke the law. My insurance may go up. The best thing is for kids to know what they are accountable for. However, it is not govts. responsibility to tell you every single law. Ignorance of the law is not defense of it. Abstinance is the best answer for all. If you say kids will be kids, then oh well, pay the consequences.

The parents can tell the kids about the law all they want. That isn't necessarily going to deter them.

I completely disagree with your point about minors "NEVER" having consensual sex. That's just not true.

I don't think anyone wants a law done away with. What needs to happen is some common sense. As someone stated earlier, teenagers that engage in consensual sex should not be treated the same as rapists and pedophiles. That is not justice.

[Rocket]

OK...this is so easy.

DON"T HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR. If you have to do it and can't control your "animal" instincts, wait until the girl turns 17. If you LOVE her, you can wait. What was the statistic I saw the other day? 1 out of every 4 Teenage Girls has an STD.

The law is set up to PROTECT, not to punish. We Americans need to learn to submit rather than be defensive about somebody telling us what we can or can't do. For every person that yells, this is not fair or this is too harsh, there are 25 moms yelling Thank You for this law.

DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR. PERIOD. Parents teach your boys what's at stake. Parents teach your girls what's at stake.

Sex is way too complicated for teenagers under 17, way too many problems and issues. Teenage Pregnancy, STD's, AIDS, reputation, unstable relationships, emotional scarring and so on... but hey what do you expect? Every where you turn its sex, sex, sex. You aren't cool unless you are having it.

People act like Sex is uncontrollable. Like it happens on accident and if our kids go out on a date it might accidentally happen and you have no control over it. Give me a break.

[Johnny 5]

Originally posted by Rocket
OK...this is so easy.

DON"T HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR. If you have to do it and can't control your "animal" instincts, wait until the girl turns 17. If you LOVE her, you can wait. What was the statistic I saw the other day? 1 out of every 4 Teenage Girls has an STD.

The law is set up to PROTECT, not to punish. We Americans need to learn to submit rather than be defensive about somebody telling us what we can or can't do. For every person that yells, this is not fair or this is too harsh, there are 25 moms yelling Thank You for this law.

DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH A MINOR. PERIOD. Parents teach your boys what's at stake. Parents teach your girls what's at stake.

Sex is way too complicated for teenagers under 17, way too many problems and issues. Teenage Pregnancy, STD's, AIDS, reputation, unstable relationships, emotional scarring and so on... but hey what do you expect? Every where you turn its sex, sex, sex. You aren't cool unless you are having it.

People act like Sex is uncontrollable. Like it happens on accident and if our kids go out on a date it might accidentally happen and you have no control over it. Give me a break.

I hate it when I accidentally fall onto my naked girl . . . try and get up, only to fall again . . . repeatedly :D

[BuffyMars]

Originally posted by Rocket

The law is set up to PROTECT, not to punish.

.

You said it best..problem is..this law used in this case is not protecting, but punishing.