Computer science student Zach Anderson, 19, met a girl, 17, on the "Hot or Not?" app. He was from Elkhart, Indiana. She was 20 minutes over the border in Niles, Michigan. They hooked up. Once.
But it turned out the girl was really 14. She'd lied to Anderson and also in her profile. Now Zach sits in a Michigan jail, serving 90 days. When he gets out he will be on the Sex Offender Registry for 25 years.
Does anyone thinking treating him this way is necessary to keep kids safe? Anderson and his family certainly don’t.
Neither does his supposed underage victim. The girl readily admitted that she lied about her age, and in this WSBT-TV interview her mother admitted that Anderson “didn't do anything my daughter didn’t do.” Everyone agrees the encounter was completely consensual. The only reason the police became involved at all is because the girl suffers from epilepsy, and when she didn't come home as quickly as expected her mom worried and called the cops for help.
In this excellent South Bend Tribune article, the mom told a reporter that she didn’t just ask the judge for leniency, "we asked him to drop the case."
But court records show that Berrien County District Court Judge Dennis Wiley (who once jailed a woman for 10 days over Christmas because she cursed while paying a traffic ticket in the county clerk’s office) paid none of the participants any mind. At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Now, in addition to registering as a sex offender, Anderson will spend five years on probation, during which time he will not be allowed to live in a home where there is internet access or a smart phone. He will obviously have to change his major. And he is forbidden to talk to anyone under age 17, except his brothers.
I spoke to Anderson's dad, Les Anderson, yesterday. He said the family is about to try to withdraw the original plea deal Zach agreed to, because, he says, "The prosecutor violated the plea."
You see, in Michigan there is a leniency provision for first-time offenders under age 21. It keeps them off the registry. As part of the plea deal, the prosecutor had agreed not to take a position pro or con on whether to apply the provision to Zach. But when it came time for sentencing, the prosecutor reminded the judge that he had denied leniency in similar cases twice before.
That struck defense lawyer Scott Grabel as not exactly neutral. "He did us a favor," says Grabel, "because now we have a basis to withdraw the plea."
I chatted with Grabel yesterday, too. He says that if the case is tried anew, he would like to hold off for another six-to-nine months, because by then it's possible that the Michigan Supreme Court will have decided to allow defendants to use she lied about her age as a component of their defense.
Right now, 20 states allow this. But in the other 30, you can turn to your would-be hook-up and say, "'Look I want to see a passport or driver's license,' and I'd say that's pretty diligent of you," says Grabel. But if the I.D. is fake and she is actually underage, you can still be convicted of statutory rape.
Let's hope Michigan makes that change. In the meantime, Judge Wiley should realize that just because you met someone online does not mean you are a depraved fiend who deserves 25 years on the Sex Offender Registry.
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America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
This is a ridiculous abuse of power. Just because the judge doesn't approve of the LEGAL consensual "hook up culture" doesn't mean he should take it out on one of the people in his courtroom.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
This is the kind of thing that makes me question a lot of sex related incidents.
It's ridiculous.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
She was, in fact, underage. If she had actually been 17, this would not have been an issue.
Yes, she lied to him--but at the same time, he has to be more careful in picking sexual partners. The fact that she consented is irrelevant since she was under the age of consent--and he was not a minor.
I do think the punishment is too harsh. He's not generally going to be a threat to society in the future--and he's undoubtedly learned his lesson.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
She was, in fact, underage. If she had actually been 17, this would not have been an issue.
Yes, she lied to him--but at the same time, he has to be more careful in picking sexual partners. The fact that she consented is irrelevant since she was under the age of consent--and he was not a minor.
I do think the punishment is too harsh. He's not generally going to be a threat to society in the future--and he's undoubtedly learned his lesson.
I agree with this. "She lied about her age" has been an excuse for years - but children do that. The adult is the one charged with making sure what they are doing is ok. I think the punishment is way too harsh, however.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
He has the right to judge the specific situation before him. He does not have the right to judge the entire culture of online dating and use his disgust for that legal practice as a reason to dole out a harsher penalty than is required.
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Out of all the lies I have told, "just kidding" is my favorite !
Personally, if this was my son, I would be grateful for the verbal admonishment from the judge. But I suspect I'm in the minority that believe trolling for hook-ups is wrong. But the girl should be admonished as well. And she should also be held accountable, on some level, rather than being made a victim. And evidently, her own mother would agree.
A similar situation occurred to the son of my BFF. He "fingered" a girl who was 17 at a party, he was 19 or 20. When both sobered up, the girl got angry with him because he did not want a relationship with her, and went to the police. He ended up doing time and was on the sex offender registry for awhile. At the time it was horrible for him and made it difficult for him to find a job, but eventually he did, and had a different view towards women. He started having more respect, and took relationships seriously. He is married and has three daughters of his own, and is a very strict father.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
He has the right to judge the specific situation before him. He does not have the right to judge the entire culture of online dating and use his disgust for that legal practice as a reason to dole out a harsher penalty than is required.
Thank you for summing up what I couldn't quite get into words. He is not being objective & I think his judgment is tainted by his personal feelings about the new online hook up culture.
Personally, if this was my son, I would be grateful for the verbal admonishment from the judge. But I suspect I'm in the minority that believe trolling for hook-ups is wrong. But the girl should be admonished as well. And she should also be held accountable, on some level, rather than being made a victim. And evidently, her own mother would agree.
A similar situation occurred to the son of my BFF. He "fingered" a girl who was 17 at a party, he was 19 or 20. When both sobered up, the girl got angry with him because he did not want a relationship with her, and went to the police. He ended up doing time and was on the sex offender registry for awhile. At the time it was horrible for him and made it difficult for him to find a job, but eventually he did, and had a different view towards women. He started having more respect, and took relationships seriously. He is married and has three daughters of his own, and is a very strict father.
Verbal admonishment is fine. Not being able to use the internet or a smart phone for 5 years is not. Not being allowed to talk to ANYONE under 17 is not.
__________________
America guarantees equal opportunity, not equal outcome...
Personally, if this was my son, I would be grateful for the verbal admonishment from the judge. But I suspect I'm in the minority that believe trolling for hook-ups is wrong. But the girl should be admonished as well. And she should also be held accountable, on some level, rather than being made a victim. And evidently, her own mother would agree.
A similar situation occurred to the son of my BFF. He "fingered" a girl who was 17 at a party, he was 19 or 20. When both sobered up, the girl got angry with him because he did not want a relationship with her, and went to the police. He ended up doing time and was on the sex offender registry for awhile. At the time it was horrible for him and made it difficult for him to find a job, but eventually he did, and had a different view towards women. He started having more respect, and took relationships seriously. He is married and has three daughters of his own, and is a very strict father.
Verbal admonishment is fine. Not being able to use the internet or a smart phone for 5 years is not. Not being allowed to talk to ANYONE under 17 is not.
The problem I have with this is enforcement. Who is going to monitor him?
Personally, 5 years is a bit much, but if he were my son, no judge would need to make that sentence, I would do it myself. Not for 5 years, but for as long as it would take me to cool off. Which could be longer, LOL.
I've known some pretty advanced girls who were younger than 17 (not in a Biblical sense).
I think the age of consent should be lowered.
(flame suit on)
Well some groups are trying.
Of course they are pedophiles.
__________________
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
She was under age, but she lied about her age. Shouldn't she receive punishment for that?
Some may want to flame me for this idea, but I think people that lie about their age should be punished more than people that accept that lie when it seems reasonable to do so. Did she look 17 in her profile photos on that hook-up website? Did she look 17 when she went to meet him? I don't know about anyone else here, but I have come across many young ladies that dress, look, and can act many years older than they actually are.
How about put the little liars on the sex offender list?
She was under age, but she lied about her age. Shouldn't she receive punishment for that?
Some may want to flame me for this idea, but I think people that lie about their age should be punished more than people that accept that lie when it seems reasonable to do so. Did she look 17 in her profile photos on that hook-up website? Did she look 17 when she went to meet him? I don't know about anyone else here, but I have come across many young ladies that dress, look, and can act many years older than they actually are.
How about put the little liars on the sex offender list?
We just don't hold children to the same standards we hold adults in most cases--nor, for the most part, should we.
Children and teens are going to do stupid things. They lie. Should she be punished? In my view, yes--but at the end of the day, not at the same level as the adult here.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Maybe the lying girl should have been the one banned from the internet for five years.
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“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!” ― Maya Angelou
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
He has the right to judge the specific situation before him. He does not have the right to judge the entire culture of online dating and use his disgust for that legal practice as a reason to dole out a harsher penalty than is required.
But the way the guy did it over the internet is part of the problem. Had he been meeting girls in person, he would have gotten a better idea about her age. The whole "meeting up online" thing is where people are able to lie about who they are. Yes, a 14 year old child LIED. People lie all the time on the internet - especially when it comes to internet "dating". He probably told some lies of his own. When he is trying to use the excuse that she lied over the internet - then the realities of the internet become part of the issue.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
He has the right to judge the specific situation before him. He does not have the right to judge the entire culture of online dating and use his disgust for that legal practice as a reason to dole out a harsher penalty than is required.
But the way the guy did it over the internet is part of the problem. Had he been meeting girls in person, he would have gotten a better idea about her age. The whole "meeting up online" thing is where people are able to lie about who they are. Yes, a 14 year old child LIED. People lie all the time on the internet - especially when it comes to internet "dating". He probably told some lies of his own. When he is trying to use the excuse that she lied over the internet - then the realities of the internet become part of the issue.
But, lying on the internet is NOT against any laws I am aware of, even lying about your age.
Nor is chatting with people and meeting them for sex punishable by law.
This judge is quoted at being pissed off that this guy arranged to meet a girl to have sex via the internet, and THAT is what he deserves to be punished for. The girl being underage doesn't appear to concern him, that there could have been a situation where the girl was hurt or taken advantage of did not appear to concern him.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
He has the right to judge the specific situation before him. He does not have the right to judge the entire culture of online dating and use his disgust for that legal practice as a reason to dole out a harsher penalty than is required.
But the way the guy did it over the internet is part of the problem. Had he been meeting girls in person, he would have gotten a better idea about her age. The whole "meeting up online" thing is where people are able to lie about who they are. Yes, a 14 year old child LIED. People lie all the time on the internet - especially when it comes to internet "dating". He probably told some lies of his own. When he is trying to use the excuse that she lied over the internet - then the realities of the internet become part of the issue.
But, lying on the internet is NOT against any laws I am aware of, even lying about your age.
Nor is chatting with people and meeting them for sex punishable by law.
This judge is quoted at being pissed off that this guy arranged to meet a girl to have sex via the internet, and THAT is what he deserves to be punished for. The girl being underage doesn't appear to concern him, that there could have been a situation where the girl was hurt or taken advantage of did not appear to concern him.
Yeah, judge is out of control.
Trolling for underage girls on the internet is, though. And I do not understand making the leap to the judge not caring the girl was underage. Of course he cared - that is why the guy was there. He wouldn't have been there if the girl hadn't been 14. And how do you KNOW he wasn't hoping to meet up with someone too young. Did he pick her because of her picture.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
That poor kid. This judge should be removed from the bench. I agree that just because he doesn't approve doesn't make it ok to be so heavy handed. If he has lost his objectivity he is not fit to be a judge.
The judge is judging - he has a right to do that. He has the right to look at the totality of the circumstances. And I have to wonder if the judge saw the girl - maybe she looks as young as she is.
He has the right to judge the specific situation before him. He does not have the right to judge the entire culture of online dating and use his disgust for that legal practice as a reason to dole out a harsher penalty than is required.
But the way the guy did it over the internet is part of the problem. Had he been meeting girls in person, he would have gotten a better idea about her age. The whole "meeting up online" thing is where people are able to lie about who they are. Yes, a 14 year old child LIED. People lie all the time on the internet - especially when it comes to internet "dating". He probably told some lies of his own. When he is trying to use the excuse that she lied over the internet - then the realities of the internet become part of the issue.
But, lying on the internet is NOT against any laws I am aware of, even lying about your age.
Nor is chatting with people and meeting them for sex punishable by law.
This judge is quoted at being pissed off that this guy arranged to meet a girl to have sex via the internet, and THAT is what he deserves to be punished for. The girl being underage doesn't appear to concern him, that there could have been a situation where the girl was hurt or taken advantage of did not appear to concern him.
Yeah, judge is out of control.
Trolling for underage girls on the internet is, though. And I do not understand making the leap to the judge not caring the girl was underage. Of course he cared - that is why the guy was there. He wouldn't have been there if the girl hadn't been 14. And how do you KNOW he wasn't hoping to meet up with someone too young. Did he pick her because of her picture.
Mostly likely she her pic was a sexual pose with heavy makeup, eyeliner. And, a 19 yr old doesn't necessarily know how old someone is by looking. I see plenty of 14 olds that if made up could pass for older. .
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Yes he was, stupid and irresponsible, and illegal.
But the punishment DOES NOT FIT the crime. The judge is being completely unreasonable and out of line, and I hope the family can get a new trial with a different judge.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Yes he was, stupid and irresponsible, and illegal.
But the punishment DOES NOT FIT the crime. The judge is being completely unreasonable and out of line, and I hope the family can get a new trial with a different judge.
I already said the punishment was too harsh. However, it seems the judge was making an example of him to deter future internet hook-ups like this one - which would not really be a bad thing.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
Let's not forget she was on a hookup site. Most, if not all, have age restrictions.
SHe is not some innocent little girl here. SHe was actively looking for trouble.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
Let's not forget she was on a hookup site. Most, if not all, have age restrictions.
SHe is not some innocent little girl here. SHe was actively looking for trouble.
An adult having sex with a 14 year old is CHILD MOLESTATION, not statutory rape. The ADULT is the responsible party - not the child. He was the adult.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
Not when it comes to consenting to sex.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
But at the end of the day, it is on him to make sure he isn't doing anything illegal. He is the technical adult here. He did commit an illegal act. Ignorance is no excuse under the law.
__________________
I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
Not really in the law.
__________________
I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
Well, many times the parents tend to brush off the age exaggerations. I have an employee with an 11 y/o granddaughter, facebook account says this 19, she's posted pictures where she certainly does her best to look 19. The mother says she's monitoring it. I've seen evidence she's not. The kid is cruisin' for trouble
Well, many times the parents tend to brush off the age exaggerations. I have an employee with an 11 y/o granddaughter, facebook account says this 19, she's posted pictures where she certainly does her best to look 19. The mother says she's monitoring it. I've seen evidence she's not. The kid is cruisin' for trouble
If she wasn't still growing, she should be on birth control pills. This year she's pretending to be 19. Next year she will be acting like she's 19.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
At sentencing he told Anderson, "You went online, to use a fisherman's expression, trolling for women to meet and have sex with. That seems to be part of our culture now: meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever."
Well, that is a thing now. Hookups for sex between consenting adults. We may not like it morally, but legally, if you are hooking up with another adult then that really isn't the concern of a Judge or anyone else is it? Obviously this is different because she was 14. But, everyone has to be responsible for their own part as well, including women or girls who go online to solicit sex too. That is what she did. There has to be some negligence on her part or lack of supervision by the parents as well.
She's a child - not legally old enough to be responsible. The guy was stupid.
Kids are not responsible for the lies they tell? Since when? If she lied about her age and got into trouble for it, that still should be a factor and mitigating circumstance.
Well, many times the parents tend to brush off the age exaggerations. I have an employee with an 11 y/o granddaughter, facebook account says this 19, she's posted pictures where she certainly does her best to look 19. The mother says she's monitoring it. I've seen evidence she's not. The kid is cruisin' for trouble
She's not monitoring it if she allows her to lie.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Well, the mother's excuse is "All the kids say they're 19"
Evidently (according to the grandmother) the mom was a wild child. Tween gran, and mom, there are 7 ex hubbies. I think the girl will follow down that path too!
We just don't hold children to the same standards we hold adults in most cases--nor, for the most part, should we.
Children and teens are going to do stupid things. They lie. Should she be punished? In my view, yes--but at the end of the day, not at the same level as the adult here.
- huskerbb
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I agree for, as you say, in most cases. However, lying to have sex is lying to be treated as an adult. If they want to lie to be treated as an adult, I say let's treat them as an adult when it comes to punishment.
I would agree with taking some thing into consideration though, just as I would in any case. Did she proffer ID? Did she look like she could be of age? Was it completely unreasonable for him to have not known she was under age?
Punish based on what percentage of guilt belongs to whom.
--- My apologies for the delay in response. My laptop died and I had to get a new-to-me one from the company this morning.
We just don't hold children to the same standards we hold adults in most cases--nor, for the most part, should we.
Children and teens are going to do stupid things. They lie. Should she be punished? In my view, yes--but at the end of the day, not at the same level as the adult here. - huskerbb
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I agree for, as you say, in most cases. However, lying to have sex is lying to be treated as an adult. If they want to lie to be treated as an adult, I say let's treat them as an adult when it comes to punishment.
I would agree with taking some thing into consideration though, just as I would in any case. Did she proffer ID? Did she look like she could be of age? Was it completely unreasonable for him to have not known she was under age?
Punish based on what percentage of guilt belongs to whom.
--- My apologies for the delay in response. My laptop died and I had to get a new-to-me one from the company this morning.
But even in cases of murder--where the child is no doubt 100% responsible, they are still often treated differently. Sometimes such cases are kicked up to adult court, but even that requires a special hearing and it doesn't always happen.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
But even in cases of murder--where the child is no doubt 100% responsible, they are still often treated differently. Sometimes such cases are kicked up to adult court, but even that requires a special hearing and it doesn't always happen.
- huskerbb
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Valid point. But as you point out sometimes they are charged as adults, so there's precedent for charging children as adults when their crime is adult in nature.
But what is the crime here? Fraud, maybe? Lying in and of itself is not necessarily a crime. It can be under certain conditions, I'm just not sure if those conditions are present here.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
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