Should he do time?

[Hercules10]

Cliff notes: Male teacher (35) has sexual relationship with female student (17). He's looking at doing 20 years.

About a year ago Female teacher (25) had sexual relationship with male student (18) and was not indicted.

Age of consent in Texas=17 y/o. But new law says any student/teacher sexual relationship is a against the law regardless of age.

Story:
A 35-year-old Cleburne High School assistant coach and teacher accused of having an ongoing sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student was arrested Tuesday under a controversial Texas law that prohibits sexual relationships with students even if they have reached the age of consent.

Ronny Lee Yates faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of having an improper relationship with a student, a second-degree felony. He was arrested at his Cleburne home Tuesday night and was released from the Johnson County Jail after posting $10,000 bail Wednesday.

Last year, a Denton County grand jury declined to indict a Hebron High School teacher and former Miss Texas contestant who was accused of sleeping with an 18-year-old male student.

Amy McElhenney's 2006 arrest cast a spotlight on Texas' law. Her case was reported in newspapers across the nation and on TV programs including Good Morning America and Inside Edition.

The arrest of Ms. McElhenney, 26, was Carrollton's first under the improper teacher-student relationship law.

Carrollton police spokesman Patrick Murphy said he was inundated with phone calls from media outlets across the country after Ms. McElhenney's arrest.

Link to full story:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-coachcharged_25met.ART0.North.Edition1.293a941.html

Would it be a sexist decision to make the man do time while the woman walked free?

 

[mom2rb]

I don't know how I feel about this. I don't want teachers taking advantage of students but the age of consent is 17. I also don't want males treated differently than females. Either change the teacher law or raise the age of consent law.

 

[cardaway]

Lose his job for sure, but jail time? Nope, not IMO.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Cliff notes: Male teacher (35) has sexual relationship with female student (17). He's looking at doing 20 years.

About a year ago Female teacher (25) had sexual relationship with male student (18) and was not indicted.

Age of consent in Texas=17 y/o. But new law says any student/teacher sexual relationship is a against the law regardless of age.


Would it be a sexist decision to make the man do time while the woman walked free?

Given these facts, yes, it is sexist. And unlawful to let the woman off with nothing. The law is the law. If jail time is called for in a student/teacher relationship situation, then it should apply either way.


(OMG Herc.... I think we actually agree on something.)

 

[Wishing on a star]

No, I do not think that jail time is necessary since the child has reached the age of consent. This would not constitute either rape or statutory rape.

PS: It is not fair to present this as a sexist issue... The LAWS have changed, not just the fact that the teacher was a male or female.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm on the fence--with the male student being 18...even if the age of consent is lower, he is still a legal adult. That is most likely why the women is walking free (that and she had a better lawyer, maybe). Just my $.02.

I do not think it is "sexist" though.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

No, I do not think that jail time is necessary since the child has reached the age of consent. This would not constitute either rape or statutory rape.

PS: It is not fair to present this as a sexist issue... The LAWS have changed, not just the fact that the teacher was a male or female.

Has the law changed since the situation last year? If the law was the same at the time, then it is, in fact, sexist.

 

[Hercules10]

(OMG Herc.... I think we actually agree on something.)

 

[Hercules10]

Has the law changed since the situation last year? If the law was the same at the time, then it is, in fact, sexist.

No in fact the laws have not changed in Texas. Both teachers were arrested under the same law.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

No in fact the laws have not changed in Texas. Both teachers were arrested under the same law.

Then it's sexist.

 

[Wishing on a star]

No in fact the laws have not changed in Texas. Both teachers were arrested under the same law.

Thanks!
the way you said 'new law' led me to believe that the first teacher was let off the hook before the law was passed.

 

[Wishing on a star]

It would seem that a lot of the law is based on prior interpretations... or 'precedence'.

I think that this teachers lawyer would do well to bring up this prior case if this goes to court.

I do have to add that in my personal opinion ANY teacher who would do this is despicable.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

There is a double standard when it comes to adult women & men and sexist situations with minors. I know of a 40+ year old woman and a boy of 14-15. If it was a man and a girl of 14-15 he would have been locked up by now. To my knowledge nothing has been done about the woman and it's basically common knowledge in town what's been going on...

 

[cardaway]

There is a double standard when it comes to adult women & men and sexist situations with minors. I know of a 40+ year old woman and a boy of 14-15. If it was a man and a girl of 14-15 he would have been locked up by now. To my knowledge nothing has been done about the woman and it's basically common knowledge in town what's been going on...

Add to that the very famous case of Mary Kay Letourneau and how very little happened to her compared to what would have happened if her name was Mark Letourneau.

 

[Golf4food]

Anything good for the goose should be good for the gander.