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13-year-old girl charged as both sex offender and victim
Filed under: Teens, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies
A 13-year-old Utah girl is facing unusual legal action in a court case that has reached the Utah Supreme Court. The girl is being charged as both a sex offender and a victim due to having sex with her boyfriend, who is 12. The problem started when the two minors had sex, which is illegal in Utah. State law says that no one can have sex with a minor under the age of fourteen, which includes other minors as well. The law states that 16 and 17-year-old teens can have sex with others in their age group without it being a crime. Teens who are 14 and 15 can have sex with their own age group, but can be charged with unlawful conduct of a minor.
The act occurred in 2003 when the children had consensual sex and the girl became pregnant. Charges were filed and that's where the problems began. Her boyfriend was also charged and found guilty of breaking the sex with a minor law.
The problem is that Utah made this law to send a message to young people that they should not have sex. They feel that by prosecuting the children that do have sex, they are stopping kids from doing the same thing in the future. But, come on, do they think that by enacting laws that these kids are not going to have sex?
Instead of teaching children to abstain or to at least teach them to protect themselves, they are going for blood. What is the result? That she can get labeled a "sex offender" for the rest of her life for a consensual act from when she was 13?
And how can one be both a victim and an offender? Wouldn't that make it....consensual?
What is your take on this issue? Should the children be charged with a crime for having sex?
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
12-07-2006 @ 8:10PM
William Mann said...In this day and time even kids 12&13 know about sex. It is time for this country to catch up with what is going on, not what they think is going on. The parents are not too be blamed for, 110years ago this was not A crime, it was nature and still is.
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12-08-2006 @ 4:33AM
dave said...It is utterly rediculous that they even have silly laws to prevent the dangerous act of sex between minors. I completely understand and back the legal age to consent with an adult, but it is human to have sex. kids reach puberty sometimes as early as 10, and while i dont condone 10 year olds sleeping around, it is only natural for the body to find an acceptable partner to satisfy sexual urges. instead of spending money enforcing these silly laws, officials need to re-invest in a SAFE SEX PROGRAM. i guarentee if will save more lives that a silly "wait till you're 14" campaign.
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12-08-2006 @ 3:49PM
Sharon said...I agree that this is ridiculous, and the kids should not be stuck with a label for the rest of their lives for something harmless they did as kids.
And by the way, just a thought... Isn't Utah where alot of those off-shoot Mormons who marry little girls live? Don't see alot of them getting prosecuted - so apparently an older man marrying a teenager against her will is okay, but 2 kids having sex consensually isn't?
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12-21-2006 @ 6:27AM
bibek said...to chat
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12-30-2006 @ 3:22PM
April said...Wow ok ummmm I agree with comment 4. LOL Im speechless.
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3-06-2007 @ 12:49AM
Andrew said...Hi
I'm 18 and I'm a virgin. I'd rather get married then have sex than have sex with a one night stand. Plus, it's wrong to have premarried sex. It has to be with the right one. It'll be adultery. That's not loving Jesus now is it?
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