15 Year Old Girl Charged as Sex Offender

Originally posted by v3_exceed
Although I am a new member, I have 2 daughters and I believe this gives me a little insight to this issue. (I'm Canadian, so that might play a bit on my response)

This is a stupid law. At 15, many of us were far more interested in sex than we were in school, sports or other hobbies. So naturally if we had camera phones available to us at that age we would probably have used them in this fashion.

To have a girl like this face 10 years for exploiting herself, is just inane. If the pictures she sent were to people within a year or two of her own age, this should be chocked up to curiosity, perhaps an attention grab, but hardly a criminal offense.

There are good reasons to have laws that protect the young from being exploited by beings that are aware of the ramifications and damage this exploitation can cause to a young persons life. This instance is an abuse of those laws.

She should probably be grounded, have her phone taken away and be subject to some discussions with her parents as to why this can harm her future. Based on the information we have about this case, I would not suggest she would be considered the sexual predator that these laws were intended to protect the children from.

Thanks for reading.
..Ex

ps. in many States and Canada it is currently against the law to perform oral sex on your partner. I would bet that many reading this would be considered criminals for just this point

Good post. And by the same token, if this had been a 23 yo taking pictures of her and sending to his friends, then by all means, HANG HIM!

This is an over hyped Puritan end run at a kid because "she must be made example of!" Bah! Pure idiocy. An over zealous prosecutor and a large segment of the US becoming so wrapped in the garb of extremism that we are not far from being controlled by the Taliban.

reply to post by eldard


I agree. I think this sort of thing is the height of hypocrisy on the part of the adults who prosecute them.

While I do not think that children should be allowed to just run willy nilly with a "free pass" to do whatever they like, I also think that holding them to the same standards as adults and burdening them with a criminal record for the rest of their lives for what used to "childish foolishness," is ridiculous. It is utterly illogical. Now you have created someone who is going to have more difficulty finding employment when they are an adult. For what? For acting like a child?

If they are competent to be held to the same legal standards as adults, why dont we give them the same rights? Why dont we let the 11 year olds drive, vote, pose in Playboy, be strippers, etc. ? Its because we all know that children, no matter how intelligent, lack the ability to really think through the consequences of their own behaviors. At least we used to know that. They are impulsive, and studies of brain development bear out that there is a physical reason for this, and indicate that frontal lobe development is not complete until around the age of 20.

www.abanet.org...

The largest part of the brain is the frontal lobe. A small area of the rontal lobe located behind the forehead, called the prefrontal cortex, controls the brain’s most advanced functions. This part, often referred to as the “CEO” of the body, provides humans with advanced cognition. It allows us to prioritize thoughts, imagine, think in the abstract, anticipate onsequences, plan, and control impulses. Along with everything else in the body, the brain changes significantly during adolescence. In the last five years, scientists, using new technologies, have discovered that adolescent brains are far less developed than previously believed.

Researchers have carefully scrutinized the pace and severity of these changes and have learned that they continue into a person’s early 20s. Dr. Elizabeth Sowell, a member of the UCLA brain research team, has led studies of brain development from adolescence to adulthood. She and her colleagues found that the frontal lobe undergoes far more change during adolescence than at any other stage of life.4 It is also the last part of the brain to develop, which means that even as they become fully capable in
other areas, adolescents cannot reason as well as adults: “[m]aturation,
particularly in the frontal lobes, has been shown to correlate with measures of cognitive functioning.”5

Sorry for the rant, but this whole "burn them" attitude from adults regarding children who commit crimes really pisses me off. Especially since ALL of us have done something stupid that COULD have resulted in harm to another child or person when we were children. And if you claim you didnt, you, sir or madam, are a liar. If you managed to get through your own childhood without harming someone you are lucky. Not "better."





[edit on 16-10-2008 by Illusionsaregrander]

He said in April his office had received about 20 cases involving questionable cell phone pictures. None were charged pending their adherence to a plan crafted with their families.

That is really messed up if they go after THIS GIRL and ignore the other 20 or so cases. She is in foster care, this girl has probably already had a very rough time of it, and she could have easily been a victim of abuse at some point. They decide to pick on her while ignoring other cases?

More towns are expected to adopt sex-offender zones to stop a wave of sex offenders driven from other areas from moving in. "I guess everybody's going to have to shield themselves . . . because they still have to go somewhere," said Highlands Mayor Richard O'Neil, whose community adopted its own ordinance on Feb. 15.

Most rules prohibit offenders from living near schools, playgrounds, parks and day care centers, but some communities have added beaches and bowling alleys to their lists of prohibited places.

Middletown is the only local municipality that allows low-risk offenders, classified as tier one offenders, but excludes moderate- or high-risk offenders, classified as tiers two and three. Upper Freehold sets up different distances for its exclusion zones, depending on the tier of the offender. For example, tier three offenders cannot live within 2,000 feet of a prohibited place, while tier ones cannot live within 500 feet.

thnt.gns.gannettonline.com.../B3/20060305/SPECIAL07/101120012

The above laws apply in NJ, where this girl lives. That is really messed up if they convict her as a sex offender. The restrictions on where she can live and go will be quite severe.

Here in Georgia they keep making the laws harsher too. Some people were convicted as sex offenders when they were 19 or so dating a younger partner. In one case the guy married the girl, and they had been married for 20 years or so. They had kids and owned a house and then when the new "offender" rules went into effect he was going to have to SELL his house and move because it was near a school.

[edit on 16-10-2008 by Sonya610]

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
Also, i'm a Criminal Justice student, so criminal law is a huge issue to me. Many laws on the books I find ridiculous and many punishments that are handed out or NOT handed out, I also find ridiculous.

Speaking of wacky laws here is the Canadian ruling... (The US is by state and gets weirdt)

The Tackling Violent Crime Act took effect on 1 May 2008, making the current age of consent 16.[1]

There exist two close in age exemptions, depending on the age of the younger partner. A youth of twelve or thirteen can consent to sexual activity with an individual no more than two years older than them. A fourteen- or fifteen-year-old can consent to sexual activity with a partner who is no more than five years older than them, or to whom they are married. (Marriages are permitted for those above 16 outside Quebec, and above 16 for males and 14 for females in Quebec.) Neither exception applies if the accused was in a position of trust or authority towards the victim, the victim was in a relationship of dependency with the accused, or if the relationship between the accused and victim is found to be exploitative.

en.wikipedia.org...

Here is Missippi

Mississippi

The age of consent in Mississippi is 16. The crime of statutory rape is committed when:[7]

1. Any person seventeen (17) years of age or older has sexual intercourse with a child who:
1. Is at least fourteen (14) but under sixteen (16) years of age;
2. Is thirty-six (36) or more months younger than the person; and
3. Is not the person's spouse; or
2. A person of any age has sexual intercourse with a child who:
1. Is under the age of fourteen (14) years;
2. Is twenty-four (24) or more months younger than the person; and
3. Is not the person's spouse.

Now can someone tell me how a kid is going to decipher all this?

Not to many years back the Age of Consent in Georgia was 12.

We keep pushing up the ages in everything... you can go kill for your country at 18 but can't get a drink till 21

In the Mississippi example a 17 year old can have sex with a 14 year old and even marry... but the second he turns 18 he is a felon unless they abstain for 3 years while she catches up

But don't snap a photo...

IRS
Insanity Rules Supreme

Marking this girl as a sex offender is a ridiculous and destructive act.

I hope there are some ADULTS living in Ohio who can help this girl! For crying out loud!

If she is convicted for this then our entire society should be listed as a sex offender for ojectifying our youngsters relentlessly in ALL media! Shame Shame!!

reply to post by SantaClaus


I think this is a manifestation of the puritanical curse on America. The incident is nothing more than "Show me yours and I'll show you mine." Children have been doing that for ages. Playing house and doctor, too.

The girl's natural curiosity was aided by technology. Well, when has that not ever been the case. In prehistoric times children used campfires. Then they used candlelight and oil lamps. Then they used flashlights and sleeping bags. Now they're using cameras on cellphones.

The poor girl is not a freak, but she probably feels like one now, possibly damaged for life because well meaning adults couldn't simply take her cell phone away and explain to her the danger that she put herself, her friends, and the families of all involved in.

Blame the technology, blame the laws, blame God and the devil, but don't blame concerned adults who have no true ethical or moral sense whatsoever when it comes to dealing with adolescents.

This case represents in many ways how America is ashamed of itself. How afraid and ignorant it is of dealing with basic everyday facts of life.

In my view, those who are prosecuting the girl should be charged with statutory rape. They are literally abusing the girl with statutes of the state when adult compassion and understanding is the only thing that was needed to teach the girl and her friends a life lesson.

Instead the adults choose to demonize adolescent sexual behavior and to make an example of the girl in order to scare straight other adolescents of the state. Perhaps even the country.

This case is truly disgusting.

When you have 'women' like Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton and Amy Winehouse as rolemodels for kidz today, how can you even begin to be surprised when this happens? Especially Brittney, once having been the poster-girl for Puritans worldwide, then transforming into a rebel succubus.

These days, even looking for cartoons is a minefield, with toon 'persiflages' doing the dirty.

I'm no puritan.. heck, I regularly visit some sites with good thumbs.
Just wanted to point out the brainwashing here.. 'It's slutty lookers who will ever be rich and amount to anything, no brains required, just open wide for a beaver shot and kiss another sleaze when there's papparazi nearby.

Front page guaranteed, really handy for MSM to divert attention from real issues.. I dread the photo's influenced kidz will make the day one of those 'new idols' will expand passionately about the joys of sex with a crowd..

Great post by the way, Areal 51, starred

The child in question lives in Ohio. So one needs to take into consideration that Ohio is one of the states that have townships which make their own laws, within their jurisdictions.

I have no love for a state I lived in for 15 years that considers women no more than chattel (One of the last DOWRY states in the US)and treats them as second class citizens...and the message that is being sent by going after this CHILD, and the recipients of her "experimentation" in such a manner is again, demeaning and way over the top in punishment.

Does anyone remember the kiddie pictures your parents took of you as babies in the nude maybe brushing your teeth, standing at the potty, or maybe on a blanket on the bed??? Is that "kiddie porn"? In todays politically correct, uptight, paranoid world ruled with FEAR ...the answer would be a resounding, sickening, yes, if they shared how cute you were with anyone, or they were found in their possession in a box in the closet.

Laws, when applied in the manner and spirit that they were written, can provide protection....otherwise, they are useless.

~Holly

I'm not too sure she is innocent in the way that some are implying. Just because some people did things that were somewhat identical in their younger years does not make it right. The way I see it, what if it was my daughter? (Foster or otherwise) Sure being charged with a crime seems a bit harsh, and as a Parent, I would fight it, but do I think she is just a kid acting out her inhibitions? No. Teenagers know right from wrong, they know what porn is and so on and so forth. Additionally, 15 year old kids now a days are a lot different than 15 year olds were 10 years ago. They do, in fact, have ulterior motives while just "acting out". I work in a lot of high schools and I see things that would have been unthinkable had they have been going on while I was in school (and I'm not that old and I was a Rebel in school).
Any who, she knew what she was doing, and why she was doing it. 10 years as a Sex Offender though? No.

This system with laws and courts that do not reflect societies interests or even follow common sense having the absolute power given to them by the elites who pretend that such things have no other solution. Well maybe in their limited mindset. To begin with, I'd make dam sure that everyone, including judges could be subject to criminal charges for miscarrying justice or even tolerating some of the pseudo laws that aren't clear. Second, I'd have my own jury set up, with teeth and claws that could enact its decisions, that would be a panel of ordinary people to oversee all judicial and governmental procedures, that would have to be carried out in full transparency. This panel could suspend and yes, recommend charges.

Edit to add: there has to be something people can do when they hear about things like this.
This kind of mistreatment of someone cannot be allowed. Its unthinkable! Yet this happens all the time without recourse. Forget it. Changes need to be made.

[edit on 16-10-2008 by mystiq]

Originally posted by greeneyedleo

Originally posted by AHostileMe
reply to post by Lucid Lunacy

 

The iphone does not have picture messaging capabilities.

Im sure that LL was meaning a cell phone in general. I think some people use the term "Iphone" as a generic term for "cell phone". Just like some people call ALL MP3 players "Ipods"...when that clearly isnt so.

I was trying to be a generalist. Plus the iPhone is the latest and greatest for mobile phones. Very appropriate to this case, when you consider this is, as other members pointed out, just an electronic version of show me yours, and i'll show you mine.

That said, I don't know what you are talking about AHostileMe. The iPhone has a camera. I have one and I take photos with it often

She should be charged as a minor for possesion of child porn plain and simple.
Ive been wondering for years when this would happen, frankly it needs to happen more.
If a minor sends me naked pics of her and Im over 18 I goto jail.
Why does she not for production of illegal content?
Plain and simple charge her as a minor for what shes done.

You cannot have double standards either the pictures are illegal or they are not.
Im some what biased because if it was sent to me (as a male) even unknowingly Id be charged and goto jail. If you stop the production of this material it goes a long ways.
Detectives often target the scene of the crime to find victims and abusers.

This is actually real police work for once.

Originally posted by whatukno

Ok ill tell you where the crime was committed, the crime is a picture was taken of a minor in an obviously sexually explicit manner.

Taken of a minor? No. It was taken from the minor, of herself, and she happens to be a minor. That may all just seem like semantics to you but it is paramount to understanding the overall intention of this alleged 'crime'.

and this child pornography was sent to others for the expressed intent of those others to become sexually aroused...

Let's drop this case altogether and think about stuff we all have related to in this thread.

Spin The Bottle
Doctor
Show me yours, and I'll show you mine
Skinny Dipping

by that child pornography.

If friends got together and played the above games, and they were minors, they would be according your strict sense of thinking, child molestors, child predators, and distributors of child pornography. Hell... in the event of a skinny dipping game they would be a part of an entire child porn ring operation!!

So, WhatuKno, should we send in the FBI's field teams for some mass arrests?

She should not be charged, no question. It is a waste of police time, a waste of her time and a total embarrasment to her and her family. Some teenagers get horny and trade naked pictures.... definately not a police matter. It would however be a police matter if she had been sending them to older men....

heres another question on the same topic:

what if she took pictures of herself, but didn't show them to anyone.. then someone found her in possession of those pictures 10 years later. She would then be an adult in possession of child pornography, which seems to have a much heftier punishment.

Originally posted by Dock6
reply to post by scientist

 

I don't know who you imagine yourself to be, let alone why you would post about what you expect from anyone

attend to your own posts .. that's the only area you're entitled to harbour expectation about

that's fine by me - I did not expect you would have any logic behind your arguments anyways, but I was interested in providing you the opportunity first, before I called you a hypocrite - which I am now stating.

My posts are here and if you choose, read them

Otherwise, don't attempt to big-note yourself by introducing other posters threads into a completely separate thread. I think you'll discover that contravenes T & C.

really, asking for some reasoning behind your statements is a T&C violation? please direct me to that particular rule, as I must have overlooked it when I read the "deny ignorance" slogan.

reply to post by schism85

Do you know what being on a sex offenders list actually entails?

Thankfully no I don't have a clue what being on the sex offender list means. But I wonder, if no punishment should happen to this young lady, no repercussions for her actions. What about down the road? If this sort of behavior is condoned? Then what? Will we have another young lady exploited in the porno industry?

reply to post by traderjack

Do yourself a favor get a sense of humor and quit listening to everything Falwell and Robertson parrot.

Ok Ill try

reply to post by greeneyedleo

IMO. I have a feeling the judge will give her a stern talking to, and she wont face any criminal charges. I hope so at least.

More than likely, the judge will give her a harsh talking to. Perhaps this will be enough to scare this young lady straight. I don't think this kind of behavior should be condoned nor should it be accepted. I am not sure why people on this board are fine about this issue. Apparently people on this board are all for some 15 year old to post child porn of herself and that's ok cause she did it herself.

It just seems crazy to me that this kind of behavior is acceptable. That just because she took the pictures herself that means everything is all alright. Simply put this is not acceptable behavior for a young girl. It just isn't.

reply to post by NovusOrdoMundi


So are you saying it's ok for an underage minor to send indecent photographs of herself? This is acceptable behavior? This is all ok? Just because she sent it to her friends it makes it all ok?

How exactly is it ok for an underage minor to take nude photographs of herself, transmit them over a telecommunications system (where it might be intercepted by someone that happened to clone her or the recipients phone) and receive no reprimand for this behavior?

reply to post by Griff


Did she attempt suicide? If she did she should be put somewhere safe while she is evaluated and counseled. Suicide is the ultimate cry for help. But apparently from what im reading by everyone else's response just because she took the photographs herself, it means it's all hunky dory for her to do whatever she pleases with the photographs and perhaps even post them on the internet for every sick twisted pedophile to view.

It would be interesting to follow up with this girl in 10 years if nothing comes of this to see what porno movies she stars in or what street corner she works on.

reply to post by Lucid Lunacy


I completely agree with you. Starred. The rest of you on here should be ashamed for agreeing with the "Law's" decision. She's fifteen. Do any of you not remember what being fifteen is like? Kids are stupid. That's a fact.

I'm sure none of you had sex outside of the age of consent when you were her age.

Maybe you should have gone to jail and been labeled a sex offender too.

She should be sent to a counselor, maybe do some community service, and get her phone privileges cut for awhile, but anything more is UNJUST.

reply to post by whatukno


with a stance like yours, it's hard to imagine how long it will remain legal to be born in the nude. Soon, baby pictures will need to be clothed, and there will be no more "naked in the tub" childhood photos for parents to embarrass their children anymore. Thank god, someone needs to step in and stop this moral decline.

Originally posted by whatukno
Apparently people on this board are all for some 15 year old to post child porn of herself and that's ok cause she did it herself.

Because not everyone on this board agrees with you that it is child porn to begin with

Given the circumstances of the case.

[edit on 16-10-2008 by Lucid Lunacy]

reply to post by whatukno

Apparently people on this board are all for some 15 year old to post child porn of herself and that's ok cause she did it herself.

It just seems crazy to me that this kind of behavior is acceptable. That just because she took the pictures herself that means everything is all alright. Simply put this is not acceptable behavior for a young girl. It just isn't.

Minus maybe a couple of people, people here are not necessarily condoning or accepting what she did nor think she should NOT be punished.

In fact, the majority of people here said she should in fact be punished - but not in a criminal/legal sense. She should be punished by her guardians....IE phone taken away, grounding, etc. But to be arrested and charged as a sex offender is absolutely ludicrous!!!

I also believe what most are saying is: this is normal relatively normal behavior from a teenager of this age, behavior that has gone on since I was a kid (in the 70s/80s) and now with today's technology we just know about it happening more thanks to cameras/myspace/youtube.