Free Kate

[cheer25mom]

2 boys, 2girls, or boay and a girl doesn't matter, this is a stupid thing to prosecute. Both parties agree it was a consentual relationship and a 15 year old is well beyond old enough to say no to another teen. It would be a different matter entirely if she was forced. I think the law on this needs a drastic rewrite. Who are we "protecting" here and how does prosecuting this girl benefit anyone?

 

[Acklander]

Without a doubt, the laws need to change!



From what they were saying on the local news today, it is all dependent on what the actual charge is. There are males on the sex offender list because they had sex with a teenage minor. From what this lawyer was saying on the news this morning, this is one of those things where it all comes down to working the system. It sucks, but they have gotten males on the same thing.

If a 40 year old guy has a sexual relationship with a 15 year old, he'd be on the sex offender list. If a 17 year old guy has sex with a 15 year old, and then turns 18, he isn't put on the sex offender list. There are certain provisions that have to be met to be considered under the Romeo and Juliet law. This couple meets every one of he provisions except being a heterosexual couple.

 

[moon]

When I first read the story, my first thought was also, wow 18 year old with a 14 year old is a big age difference, however it appears that it was a 17 year old with a 14 year old.

If fact, according to the birthdates and their admitted date of the first encounter, the older girl was 18 when it happened.

The law -whatever it is- should be equally applied regardless of the sexual orientation of the couple. They want to change everything because the 18 year old is a girl.

 

[LisaR]

If a 40 year old guy has a sexual relationship with a 15 year old, he'd be on the sex offender list. If a 17 year old guy has sex with a 15 year old, and then turns 18, he isn't put on the sex offender list. There are certain provisions that have to be met to be considered under the Romeo and Juliet law. This couple meets every one of he provisions except being a heterosexual couple.

But Kate was 18 when this happened, wasn't she?

Again, please understand that I think this is ridiculous! I can't believe this girl could spend 15 years in prison over something teens do all the time. The mom has continually said "she didn't know the law." That isn't an excuse. The law needs changed, but right now it is the law. An 18 y/o boy that has sex with a 14 y/o girl would face the same charges.

 

[shortbun]

complicated story. They were 17 and 14 when they began their relationship. I am the parent of a 17 yo boy and I know plenty of 14yo girls from supporting the girls soccer and softball teams-attending their parties and all their games because my son's 17yo female friend plays and her mother is my best friend. I have seen many younger girls pursue older boys with major energy. These days there are many high school freshman and sophmores consenting to and intending to have sex. I think it depends on the child. Both 14 and 17 yo students are children. Either could be the pursuer.
We are not discussing rape here. A 14 yo is capable of consenting to sex with another child near his or her age.

To say that 'gay' has nothing to do with this case is ludicris. Obviously, homosexuality is at the very core of it. The parents of the younger girl are very backward and uninformed. I seriously fear how the legal system will sort this out.

 

[Planogirl]

I have never thought that teens should be prosecuted for statutory rape in these cases and I don't see this as any different. It's ludicrous to even suggest that this girl is a sexual predator and unfair to treat her differently because it was a gay relationship.

 

[Acklander]

But Kate was 18 when this happened, .

From what I understand she was under 18 when the relationship started. So, she should be covered under the Romeo and Juliet law.

 

[LisaR]

Every story I have read says that Kate was 18 when she was arrested. The mother states that the police wouldn't tell her anything because her daughter was now an adult.

What I can't figure out is if Kate and the other girl were still engaged in this relationship when Kate was 18? Or, did the relationship end when she was 17 and then she was arrested a few weeks later after turning 18? That detail is very important because the age span is the core of the Romeo and Juliet law.

NEVER MIND! I screwed up. I don't know why I thought the R & J laws applied to 14 - 17 y/o. It is 14 - 18 y/o so the age doesn't make any difference. The mom kept referencing Kate just turning 18 and that was why this was happening and I related that to the R & J laws. I am wrong. Sorry.

 

[moon]

I'm not a parent, so I'm wondering for all of you parents out there:

(first, some say she was seventeen. According to their birth dates, she was 18 when the first encounter happened.

Would you really not have a problem with an 18 year old guy having a relationship with your 14 year ol daugther?

And for the parents of boys, would it be OK with you to have an 18 year old woman having a relationship with your 14 year old son?

From my non-parent POV. I find an 18 year old with a 14 year old skeevy

 

[Acklander]

Every story I have read says that Kate was 18 when she was arrested. The mother states that the police wouldn't tell her anything because her daughter was now an adult.

What I can't figure out is if Kate and the other girl were still engaged in this relationship when Kate was 18? Or, did the relationship end when she was 17 and then she was arrested a few weeks later after turning 18? That detail is very important because the age span is the core of the Romeo and Juliet law.

The relationship started before Kate turned 18. The minor's parents were aware of the relationship before Kate turned 18. The parents waited until Kate turned 18 to file a complaint.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm not OK with the age difference at all. I just believe that it shouldn't be handled in the same manner as a 42 year old with a 14 year old and it often is. Many 18 year olds are still just kids themselves and I don't agree that they should be labeled and so harshly punished in these cases.

 

[LisaR]

The relationship started before Kate turned 18. The minor's parents were aware of the relationship before Kate turned 18. The parents waited until Kate turned 18 to file a complaint.

I just updated my post. I misunderstood. Sorry. But it does seem like the other parents purposely waited until Kate turned 18. It was my understanding that they did that so the R & J laws wouldn't apply. I was wrong.

 

[Acklander]

I'm not a parent, so I'm wondering for all of you parents out there:

(first, some say she was seventeen. According to their birth dates, she was 18 when the first encounter happened.

Would you really not have a problem with an 18 year old guy having a relationship with your 14 year ol daugther?

And for the parents of boys, would it be OK with you to have an 18 year old woman having a relationship with your 14 year old son?

From my non-parent POV. I find an 18 year old with a 14 year old skeevy

When I was 15 (was a junior in high school) I dated a senior who was 18. No one was skeeved out by this - no one batted an eye.
Isn't the younger girl 15 at this time, and the older one just turned 18????

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think there do need to be changes. We have this group of teenagers 14-18, in high school together. They interact daily, participate in activities, they are peers.

In "my day" nobody would have thought twice about a senior and freshman dating.

 

[moon]

According to the arrest affidavit, she was 18

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WTSP, Kaitlyn and her girlfriend began dating in November 2012. The victim reportedly told police they began a sexual relationship and according to the report, the victim was 14 and Kaitlyn was 18.

 

[Hoodie]

In "my day" nobody would have thought twice about a senior and freshman dating.

The dating isn't an issue. The sex is. Whether they are same sex or different sexes, the 14 year old is legally not able to consent.

Young Kate just learned that actions have consequences, and they get pretty severe after you turn 18.

And as a parent, if I found out that an 18 year old was having sex with my 14 year old, regardless of gender, I'd be filing charges too.

 

[momto2girls]

the dating isn't an issue. The sex is. Whether they are same sex or different sexes, the 14 year old is legally not able to consent.

Young kate just learned that actions have consequences, and they get pretty severe after you turn 18.

And as a parent, if i found out that an 18 year old was having sex with my 14 year old, regardless of gender, i'd be filing charges too.

ita

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'm not OK with the age difference at all. I just believe that it shouldn't be handled in the same manner as a 42 year old with a 14 year old and it often is. Many 18 year olds are still just kids themselves and I don't agree that they should be labeled and so harshly punished in these cases.

Right. Its not the same as someone older and in a position of authority or power. In the case of someone who is 42, there's a totally different dynamic.

 

[luvsJack]

I'm not a parent, so I'm wondering for all of you parents out there:

(first, some say she was seventeen. According to their birth dates, she was 18 when the first encounter happened.

Would you really not have a problem with an 18 year old guy having a relationship with your 14 year ol daugther?

And for the parents of boys, would it be OK with you to have an 18 year old woman having a relationship with your 14 year old son?

From my non-parent POV. I find an 18 year old with a 14 year old skeevy

DD is almost 15 (so still 14) and she is "talking to" (their description, not mine--its equal to dating) a 17 year old who will be 18 before she is 15. I don't have a problem in the world with it. She isn't allowed to one on one date right now, but can go in groups. Am I ok with her having sex with him? No, but I wouldn't be ok with it if he was 14 either. That said, if it happened, I wouldn't automatically accuse the boy of rape. If it is consensual, then it is what it is and one party is no more to blame than the other just because of a few years of age difference.



As for the case in the OP, while I think the younger girl may have been under the age of consent, it shouldn't matter. She was a willing party in the relationship. I think laws need to be changed. While I want young teen to be protected from adults, it should not be at the expense of other teens. One does not suddenly become an "adult" because they turned 18 three days ago.

Those that say they would file charges--sometimes its the younger participant in a relationship that presses the older one to be intimate. 3-4 years of age difference doesn't necessarily make the older person more mature or have more self control or whatever it is that makes you assume they are to blame. Why on earth would you choose to ruin someone's life because your teen chose to have sex with them? (keeping within the age range of the two teens in this case)

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

DD is almost 15 (so still 14) and she is "talking to" (their description, not mine--its equal to dating) a 17 year old who will be 18 before she is 15. I don't have a problem in the world with it. She isn't allowed to one on one date right now, but can go in groups. Am I ok with her having sex with him? No, but I wouldn't be ok with it if he was 14 either. That said, if it happened, I wouldn't automatically accuse the boy of rape. If it is consensual, then it is what it is and one party is no more to blame than the other just because of a few years of age difference.



As for the case in the OP, while I think the younger girl may have been under the age of consent, it shouldn't matter. She was a willing party in the relationship. I think laws need to be changed. While I want young teen to be protected from adults, it should not be at the expense of other teens. One does not suddenly become an "adult" because they turned 18 three days ago.

Those that say they would file charges--sometimes its the younger participant in a relationship that presses the older one to be intimate. 3-4 years of age difference doesn't necessarily make the older person more mature or have more self control or whatever it is that makes you assume they are to blame. Why on earth would you choose to ruin someone's life because your teen chose to have sex with them? (keeping within the age range of the two teens in this case)

The problem with saying "Change the laws" is that there are some 18 year olds, both boys and girls, who are totally self aware and devious enough to use the age difference and manipulate a younger teen into a sexual relationship, so changing the laws would also protect those who actually are predators, they just haven't gotten old enough from their chosen prey age range for it to be truly skeevy.

Were the parents of the 14 year old jerks for filing charges because Kate is a girl, yep, unless they would have filed the exact same charges on their daughters boyfriend, total jerks, but I don't think that a 14 year old is truly aware enough to give informed consent to a sexual relationship either. It's a sticky wicket, and unfortunately, Kate has run into it. From a legal standpoint, given the limited facts, she's guilty, but I don't think that she should be sentenced to years in prison or put on the sex offender registry for it either.