Woman charged with statutory rape

August 23, 2000 9:54 AM

Woman charged with statutory rape When laws collide. They were married too late
posted by Outlawyr (10 comments total)

stranger things happen when you marry a 13 year old. heh.
posted by tiaka at 10:18 AM on August 23, 2000

This is only a dilemma for absolutists - the kind of people who only see things in terms of simple yes or no, right or wrong, good or bad - the "rules are rules" types.

The point of the two laws in collision here is to offer protection for children. In one case for those who might be sexually assaulted and in the other for those whose parents are prevented by other laws from being married. Any level headed judge would see that no contradiction exists here if one looks to the intent of these laws.

Which child ought to be protected in this case? Who knows... most likely the newborn is more in need of a complete set of parents than the minor father is in need of protection from his wife's sexual advances.

Nevertheless, being as how this case is in Georgia it wouldn't surprise me if the "rules are rules" approach to justice prevails anyway.
posted by plaino at 10:21 AM on August 23, 2000

In an even stranger twist to the story, the boy was also the younger brother to the mother. I'd hate to be there when the child asks, "Uncle Dad, how did you and mom meet?"
posted by 120degrees at 11:06 AM on August 23, 2000

So the age of consent is only 16 in Georgia? Cooool.
posted by daveadams at 1:02 PM on August 23, 2000

Dave, If you're really concerned about ages of consent, you can always ask an expert like Ben Brown, or consult his handy reference.
posted by harmful at 1:13 PM on August 23, 2000

Ummm, Dakota Smith != Ben Brown.

Unless I'm missing some huge inside uber.nu joke thing . . .
posted by alana at 1:19 PM on August 23, 2000

No, they changed the name and picture on that page between the time I posted the link and the time you read it. It's a conspiracy. They're all out to discredit me.
posted by harmful at 1:27 PM on August 23, 2000

i can't understand why the prosecutor couldn't find something better to do--review case histories or brush up on constitutional law or something? One more reason to avoid CONYERS, GA, and the county it's in.
posted by greyscale at 7:18 PM on August 23, 2000

Actually, the reference is here.

And y'all are cordially invited not to ask me why I know that.

C'mon, sis; let's get out of here. :-)
posted by baylink at 7:43 PM on August 23, 2000

Is a 13 or 14 year old mature enough to be a responsible parent, though? Especially if he's on his first love boat of infatuation with an older woman? And still hasn't graduated high school?

This is just sad all around.
posted by rich at 11:51 AM on August 24, 2000