Debra Lafave - Double Standard in Teen Sex Case?

[bimshire]

I think it was because she is pretty and female. Double standard, a big YES. Remember the 18 yr old high school student in Georgia who had sex with his 15 yr old girlfriend who got the book thrown at him.
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Marcus Dixon Case Shows The Need For – And Complexity Of - Sentencing Reform

Marcus Dixon was in his last year of high school in Rome, Georgia, and was planning to attend Vanderbilt University on a football scholarship when he was charged with rape and related charges, including aggravated child molestation. He admitted to having consensual sex with a fellow student, who was under 16 by three months.

Dixon was black, the girl white. Dixon’s mother was in prison and he was being raised by a white family. The prosecutor described Dixon as a “sexual predator” and brought the case to trial. A jury found Dixon not guilty on several counts, but guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Unknown to them, the latter charge carried a ten-year mandatory minimum. Had Dixon only been charged with statutory rape, he would have only been subject to one year in prison. After sentencing, several jurors spoke out against the ten-year sentence imposed by the court.



http://www.sentencingproject.org/dixon.cfm

 

[poohandwendy]

but they were molestors prior to those cases...who knows what else they did.

Probably, that means they damaged even more children that we will probably never even know about. Just in different ways.

Debra should have known better...from the outside one would have thought she had it all. Pretty, newly married, steady job....I feel for all parties involved and hope they can all find help. I am not sure what punishment would be completely satisfactory to everyone?

She shoud have, and IMO she should be dealt with the same way a man in the same circumstances would be. That is not happening, hence the thread and outrage by people like me.

And the damage of this is even more far reaching because typically victims do not tell because they do not think they will be taken seriously and they will be held responsible for it...and they are. This is evidence of it. IMHO

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Yes, I think it is a total double standard.

It is alarming that much of society views a female pedophile in a different light than a male. It is seen every single time a woman teacher is charged with having sex with a student, it is romanticized instead of condemned. Ie "the boy probably loved it...it was a romantic, consentual may/december relationship"...as opposed to "he is a pervert using his power and authority to take advantage of a poor defenseless girl."

You are exactly correct!!!

 

[lillygator]

What if it was male/male or female/female..how would those that feel there is no double standard feel about that?

actually it seems of late there have been quite a few pop up in Florida...I think all involved female/female....

regardless of female/male, male/female, male/male or female/female...shouldn't they all have the same punishment? It's obvious there is a double standard.

 

[lillygator]

Probably, that means they damaged even more children that we will probably never even know about. Just in different ways. She shoud have, and IMO she should be dealt with the same way a man in the same circumstances would be. That is not happening, hence the thread and outrage by people like me.

is there anything that can be done? I mean for those who feel that the sentence is too light...aside from picketing the courthouse?
Does anyone know if she had any priors in her record?

 

[VSL]

but they were molestors prior to those cases...who knows what else they did.

That's irrelevant. They all had to start somewhere.

 

[poohandwendy]

is there anything that can be done? I mean for those who feel that the sentence is too light...aside from picketing the courthouse?
Does anyone know if she had any priors in her record?

Sadly, I don't have any answers to your questions. I would hope that more awareness of the long term damage caused would help. I would hope that victims speaking out would help. I just do not know what it would take to change the mindset that a female adult is not as damaging as a male adult to a child, sexually.

Unfortunately, male victims are automatically supposed to be tough and it is a sign of weakness to admit that a female having sex with them was a wrong or bad thing, ever. Especially if he consented or enjoyed it in any way physically. It isn't likely that very many men will come forward and admit that a female abused them and that they suffered because of it. I can say, I know one. And no...he has never come forward with his story. He knows how people would react, or at least he thinks he does. Unfortunately, he is probably right.

 

[Nancy]

actually it seems of late there have been quite a few pop up in Florida...I think all involved female/female....

regardless of female/male, male/female, male/male or female/female...shouldn't they all have the same punishment? It's obvious there is a double standard.

Big double standard if they are not prosecuted the same way.

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes, I think it is a total double standard.

It is alarming that much of society views a female pedophile in a different light than a male. It is seen every single time a woman teacher is charged with having sex with a student, it is romanticized instead of condemned. Ie "the boy probably loved it...it was a romantic, consentual may/december relationship"...as opposed to "he is a pervert using his power and authority to take advantage of a poor defenseless girl."

I agree and I'm totally sick of it. Her attorney, at one point, said that she was "too pretty" to go to prison.

 

[lillygator]

I agree and I'm totally sick of it. Her attorney, at one point, said that she was "too pretty" to go to prison.

wow - that's horrible...so only ugly people should go? wow!!

 

[VSL]

I agree and I'm totally sick of it. Her attorney, at one point, said that she was "too pretty" to go to prison.

If that's true

 

[ozarkmom]

I have a 14 yr. old son and a 15 yr. old daughter. I could imagine my son having a crush on this Debra Lafave or my daughter having a crush on an attractive teacher. They are kids the ADULTS are suppose to make sure lines aren't crossed period. I also have a 19 yr. old son who wants to teach high school and coach football/baseball. He's a good looking guy he'll have to deal with girls having crushes on him but he will have to make sure that the lines are not crossed. You don't spend time alone with your students. Bi polar or not she knew what she was doing was wrong and illegal.

 

[RitaZ.]

Here is a link that shows the attorney's exact words.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/21/Columns/Too_pretty_for_prison.shtml

Here is another link that explains the ruling in more detail.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=21598

 

[VSL]

Explained Fitzgibbons:

To place an attractive young woman in that kind of hell hole is like placing a piece of raw meat in with the lions. I don't think Debbie could survive it.

Oh, what a shame.
There have been men who were considered attractive (before their horrific crimes were revealed) - should they have gone free too?
Sick.

Thanks for the link though - the Family Guy reference summed it up in some ways.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Here is an article that has the Father of the Victim speaking out.

http://tboblogs.com/index.php/newswire/comments/lafave_deal_rejected/

There are a bunch of people that wrote in under the article.

And right below this story on the front page is an article of a Police Officer who is being charged with having sex with a 16-year old girl. He is in jail right now.

http://tbo.com/

 

[poohandwendy]

Sad to read the fathers words. The parents will be the ones picking up the pieces. I think they probably made the right decision for their son, but it is a shame that she isn't being held accountable in the same way a man in the same circumstances would.

House arrest/probation? Give me a break. Slap on the hand, nothing more.

 

[RitaZ.]

One of the articles stated that she was raped at the age of 13. Was she repeating, with the boy, the same act that was committed against her when she was about his age? Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

If the genders were reversed, there would have been a prison sentence. It's all so wrong!

 

[DawnCt1]

There is clearly a double standard; first because she is a woman and secondly because she is pretty. I haven't read a lot of the posts preceding mine but the subject is certainly generating discussion on the Howie Carr Show. One man called in and said; "I really feel very sorry for this boy. Can you imagine knowing that at 14 it won't get any better than this for a long, long time?" It does warrant chuckle but it also reflects I think, how a lot of men feel.

 

[poohandwendy]

There is clearly a double standard; first because she is a woman and secondly because she is pretty. I haven't read a lot of the posts preceding mine but the subject is certainly generating discussion on the Howie Carr Show. One man called in and said; "I really feel very sorry for this boy. Can you imagine knowing that at 14 it won't get any better than this for a long, long time?" It does warrant chuckle but it also reflects I think, how a lot of men feel.

That very attitude is the very reason male victims do not come forward very often. The fear of ridicule from the good ole boys who think this should be viewed as nothing but a notch on his belt. It's pathetic.

She would practically have to have removed his testicles with a butter knife for men to have any sympathy for his situation with this teacher. No win situation and I am sure that is why the parents did not want him to reveal his identity on the witness stand. He would never have lived it down.

They think he is looking a gift horse in the mouth. Amazingly, those same men are the ones who would want the perpetrator hung by the neck (or other parts) in the town square if it were a young, attractive gay male teacher who did this to the boy. It makes me sick.

 

[declansdad]

I don't think this is a "child molestor" in a true sense of the word. yes what she did was unacceptable but how old was she when this happened? I believe she's 25 or so now and how old was the boy? Not that the age or anything makes it right but I guess abuse in the sense of "authority" but we don't know all the facts...did he hang around her room everyday, what did he say, was he complimenting her and telling her things she, as a woman, would love to hear? He was obviously consenting..it never mentioned rape did it? She did a bad thing but I just don't see it as she waited by the playground, picking out young boys and all the rest you see in/on the news everyday.

QUOTE]

OMG...i can't believe what you re saying here