Woman. Boy. Sex. Baby. Statutory Rape. Question: why is she only getting 9 months in jail and being forced to stay away from her husband (the minor), until he is 17? Why not more of a penalty? I understand that she has a baby, with a 15 year old boy, but seriously, why is there not more of a punishment in this case? I ask, because I know that statutory rape carries this sentence: “if the person so convicted is 21 years of age or older, such person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years”, here in Georgia. Here is the portion of the House Bill that describes the stakes for a statutory rape conviction:
SECTION 7.
Said title is further amended by striking Code Section 16-6-3, relating to statutory rape, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
“16-6-3.
(a) A person commits the offense of statutory rape when he or she engages in sexual intercourse with any person under the age of 16 years and not his or her spouse, provided that no conviction shall be had for this offense on the unsupported testimony of the victim.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, a A person convicted of the offense of statutory rape shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than 20 years; provided, however, that if the person so convicted is 21 years of age or older, such person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years; provided, further, that if. Any person convicted under this subsection of the offense of statutory rape shall, in addition, be subject to the sentencing and punishment provisions of Code Section 17-10-6.2.
(c) If the victim is 14 or 15 years of age and the person so convicted is no more than three years older than the victim, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
I ask, because she committed, admitted to, and was convicted of statutory rape. So why is she escaping the punishment befitting the crime (a minimum of 10 years)? I am not trying to say that I believe men or women deserve preferential treatment, but, I know that if this were a man that had convicted this crime, he would be looking at 10-20 years in jail, right? Now, I am not naive, I know that there are different kinds of statutory rape; I don’t condone any of them, and I think that if you are convicted, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman, you did the crime, you do the time. This woman is a sexual predator that manipulated her child’s friend (!), and she is basically getting off with a big slap on the wrist. She even gets to be with him when he turns 17! There is something seriously wrong with that! I guess that I am just wondering why there is not more of a penalty in this case (i.e., the minimum), especially because of the legislation that says that it should be? Wouldn’t that be a clear message to act as a deterrent to the future of this kind of crime? Wouldn’t it be better to punish someone for manipulating a minor and sexually abusing them; rather than just giving them a very reduced sentence, and just making them stay away until he is old enough?
Does anyone else agree or disagree? Why? I personally see sex crimes against children as the worst kind of crime, and I just don’t think that anyone should be able to carry such a lenient punishment for something so manipulative and harmful to the child. Yes, this boy was 15, but is he still considered a child? He is by every other standard, and she was even covicted of statutory rape! I guess I am just wondering this, because I see all sex offenses against minors (that’s 17 and under, right?) as deplorable and horrible crimes. I know that she will be registered as a sex offender, but, when he turns 17, they can be together. Does anyone else see something wrong with that? This child has obviously been deeply manipulated, and the state pretty much has said, “not right now, but soon” to the sex offender. I just don’t get it.
What do you all think? Seriously? Am I being too hard on the woman, or does she deserve what the law says?
It’s called double standards and they suck but I doubt they’ll ever go away. Just the same as if a woman sleeps with 20+ men she’s a slut as the other way around he’s a stud. This is an ironic post because for some strange reason I thought of my exboyfriend from high school this morning. We started dating when I was 17 and he was 14 (almost 15) but continued when I was 18 and he was 16…I was thinking that it didn’t even cross my mind that maybe it was all too much for him then…
To be honest, from what I’ve read she didn’t sound much like a sexual predator, and the kid lied about his age (apparently). I’m not saying it’s right at all, but it seems she’s been tarred with the paedophile brush when the reality was the kid managed to score with his MILF.
I’m being lazy today and didn’t go read the article, but I think it also has something to do with the fact that they actually ended up getting married.
While the Letourneau case seemed so odd at the time, these types of things seem far more common now.
Hopefully the sentences will start to reflect the serious nature of the crimes. Society must get over the idea that women can’t be sexual predators.
I posted on that couple a while back…I am still shocked she didn’t get in more trouble more quickly. And did you see that hag? eeeek!!!
I totally see where you are coming from, Greg, but she did the crime; there is no, “oops, I didn’t know his age, even though we had a sexual relationship, got married, and had a baby”. If he lied about his age, and it was a one time thing, that MAY be a different story, but, in this case, she is the adult, and she did manipulate this child by having sex with him and marrying him. I don’t even want to get into the having a baby with him… it is just too messed up.
Like I said, I’m not saying it’s right and yeah, it is messed up… I had to laugh when I first heard about it on Good Morning America months and months ago, “only in Georgia” was the vibe I got
Methinks the punishment would be greater if Lisa Clark was a man (with a boy). Regardless, you’re right. Man, or woman, if you diddle a kid, you oughta pay big.
“..because I see all sex offenses against minors (that’s 17 and under, right?) as deplorable and horrible crimes.”
What about a 17 year old who has sex with his 15 year old girlfriend that he goes to high school with?
Deplorable and Horrible?
Sex with a 15 year old shouldn’t be a crime. He wasn’t 10 or 11 for Christ’s sake. If she has to pay for it then 9 months is plenty.
Maybe it’s Georgian thing. Mary Kay Letourneau ended up in jail for years didn’t she?