Free Kate

[LisaR]

Still not sure your trading of the law is correct,

I don't know if my "trading of the law" is correct either, but I do know that Kate meets the qualifications for the R & J law.

 

[moon]

If I was the child's parent and the adult in question was male and all the other circumstances were identical, I would have pressed charges. I have a 14 yo girl...believe me, I would press charges!

and it looks like you'd be required by law to press charges:

The fact is that by Florida law, any person who suspects sexual abuse of a child is required to notify authorities, or face a 3rd degree felony charges. Per attached document:

"In 2012, House Bill 1355 was passed into law and shall be referred to as "Protection of Vulnerable Persons" Ch. 2012155 of the Laws of Florida....The bill also requires any person to report known or reasonably suspected sexual abuse of a child by any person. The bill requires the central abuse hotline to accept any call reporting child abuse, abandonment, or neglect by someone other than a caregiver and to forward the
concern to the appropriate sheriffs office for further investigation. The bill also states that the knowledge and willful failure of a person, who is required to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect is elevated from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony."

The Smiths were told by a third party about Kaitlyn. Had they not pressed charges, probably someone from the school would have, and the Smith's would have been charged.

 

[Robbi]

We can all feel pro or con about the charges. In the end, all that matters is the law as far as Kate's punishment.
My opinion is it's awful if Kaitlyn's parents only pursued this because of it being a lesbian relationship. Do they think it will make her straight?

 

[chobie]

I don't know if my "trading of the law" is correct either, but I do know that Kate meets the qualifications for the R & J law.

Yes I made a typo. I was mistaken in my spelling.

 

[punkin]

and it looks like you'd be required by law to press charges:

The fact is that by Florida law, any person who suspects sexual abuse of a child is required to notify authorities, or face a 3rd degree felony charges. Per attached document:



The Smiths were told by a third party about Kaitlyn. Had they not pressed charges, probably someone from the school would have, and the Smith's would have been charged.

I think here is the problem, I would consider an 18 yo having sex with a 14 year old to be sexual abuse and I would definitely report it as such, law or no law. In this case, especially (because of the running away). However, many people on this thread don't consider this to be sexual abuse.

 

[punkin]

We can all feel pro or con about the charges. In the end, all that matters is the law as far as Kate's punishment.
My opinion is it's awful if Kaitlyn's parents only pursued this because of it being a lesbian relationship. Do they think it will make her straight?

Is that what happened? I'm not sure. I would have done the same if it was hetero. It would have made no difference to me if I were the parent what sex the adult was.

 

[LisaR]

Yes I made a typo. I was mistaken in my spelling.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to burn you. I make plenty of typos myself! I truly didn't know what word you were going for. I stand by my statement. Google if Kate qualifies for the R & J law and you will see plenty of lawyers, including her own and that of the Smiths who say she does. I'm off to bed or I would link them myself.

 

[chobie]

I think here is the problem, I would consider an 18 yo having sex with a 14 year old to be sexual abuse and I would definitely report it as such, law or no law. In this case, especially (because of the running away). However, many people on this thread don't consider this to be sexual abuse.

Even the prosecutor is offering to plea it to a non-sexual charge.

 

[chobie]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to burn you. I make plenty of typos myself! I truly didn't know what word you were going for. I stand by my statement. Google if Kate qualifies for the R & J law and you will see plenty of lawyers, including her own and that of the Smiths who say she does. I'm off to bed or I would link them myself.

Reread the statute again and am pretty sure my reading of the statute was incorrect. She would be eligible.

I was mistaken in interpretation. You are right.

 

[chobie]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to burn you. I make plenty of typos myself! I truly didn't know what word you were going for. I stand by my statement. Google if Kate qualifies for the R & J law and you will see plenty of lawyers, including her own and that of the Smiths who say she does. I'm off to bed or I would link them myself.

Duplicate post.

 

[punkin]

Even the prosecutor is offering to plea it to a non-sexual charge.

Plea bargaining is the way our legal system works. Doesn't mean she's not an abuser. Just means that it's cheaper and easier to plead her out.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I don't think she is eligible for removal. I think it reads to be considered she could not be more than 17.

If that were the case, she wouldn't have been doing anything illegal in the first place.

ETA: Sorry, I just read your earlier post.

 

[dogluva]

It's wild to me to see people are okay with a 14 year old having sex. This thread has been amazing to read.

I have a 14 year old and I would not be okay with it, especially with an 18 year old ADULT. I am amazed as well.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have a 14 year old and I would not be okay with it, especially with an 18 year old ADULT. I am amazed as well.

I wonder if it's people just trying to be cool and "with it" on a message board, because I don't think if they were the parents of the 14 year old they would really be okay with it. Can you imagine the outrage of a thread of this nature? Well, it would be outrage if it were a male that were 18. I think this country has gone gay nuts.

It's just the oddest thing bantering about the rights of this 18 year old while the 14 year old was not of the age of consent. It's pretty cut and dry.

There is nothing cool about this situation.

 

[punkin]

I wonder if it's people just trying to be cool and "with it" on a message board, because I don't think if they were the parents of the 14 year old they would really be okay with it. Can you imagine the outrage of a thread of this nature? Well, it would be outrage if it were a male that were 18. I think this country has gone gay nuts.

It's just the oddest thing bantering about the rights of this 18 year old while the 14 year old was not of the age of consent. It's pretty cut and dry.

There is nothing cool about this situation.

This case has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the people involved. It has no bearing on the law and how it's applied. Please don't make this either pro or anti gay.
Of course I agree that there is nothing cool about this situation.

 

[dogluva]

I wonder if it's people just trying to be cool and "with it" on a message board, because I don't think if they were the parents of the 14 year old they would really be okay with it. Can you imagine the outrage of a thread of this nature? Well, it would be outrage if it were a male that were 18. I think this country has gone gay nuts.

It's just the oddest thing bantering about the rights of this 18 year old while the 14 year old was not of the age of consent. It's pretty cut and dry.

There is nothing cool about this situation.

You are probably right. I have both ages, 14 and 18. I be furious if it was my 14, girl or boy. I would also be furious with my 18 year old if she had sex with a 14 year old, girl or boy. Having both ages I know the age gap is too big. It's also against the law! It has nothing to do with gay or straight, the 14 year old is too young. She needed protecting and her parents did just that. I would like to think I would do the same.

 

[OceanAnnie]

This case has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the people involved. It has no bearing on the law and how it's applied. Please don't make this either pro or anti gay.
Of course I agree that there is nothing cool about this situation.

The case is ALL about orientation. I'm not making it about anything. It is what it is. I just commented on how it is presented.

"Free Kate". Kate and her dad wearing, "Stop the hate". Among other things. Come on.

 

[luvsJack]

I have a 14 year old and I would not be okay with it, especially with an 18 year old ADULT. I am amazed as well.

Its not ok for a 14 year old to have sex. But it shouldn't necessarily make the 18 year old a sex offender.

 

[OceanAnnie]

You are probably right. I have both ages, 14 and 18. I be furious if it was my 14, girl or boy. I would also be furious with my 18 year old if she had sex with a 14 year old, girl or boy. Having both ages I know the age gap is too big. It's also against the law! It has nothing to do with gay or straight, the 14 year old is too young. She needed protecting and her parents did just that. I would like to think I would do the same.

I'd be furious either way. I certainly wouldn't be in the national news about it. I'd be trying to handle it quietly in the best way for my child.

Sadly, it has become a "cause".

 

[punkin]

Its not ok for a 14 year old to have sex. But it shouldn't necessarily make the 18 year old a sex offender.

An 18 year old having sex with a 14 yo is by definition a sex offender.