This frikkin' insane!

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
18 and 15 vs. 17 and 15. Huge distinction.

That's why the 18 v. 15 is a "wobbler."

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

And a zealous prosecutor making a name for himself...

( In case it wasn't clear a 3 vs. 2 year age difference is to mind meaningless. The opporunity exists to have the same kind of political exploitation. )

[Zkribbler]

Except in L.A. at least, we have charging [Deputy] D.A.s and then also the ones who try the cases.

A few years back, I was talking to a D.A. buddy of mine, who told the story of being sent into trial--he took a look a the file and exclaimed, "Who's the idiot who decided to charge this #@^&! case?!" So he thumbed ferociously through the file to see who the charging D.A. was. "Oops, it was me...before my recent transfer. Funny, this case looked a lot easier when I wasn't the guy who had to try it."

[Deity Dude]

OK look at the facts of the case before you totally slam Georgia. 5 17 year old boys take a 17 and 15 year old girl to a hotel room.

They took a video tape recorder with them - so I would say there was some premeditation to film the 17 and 15 year old girl. I doubt the tape was meant to stay locked in a drawer. Taping and distributing sex acts with a 15 year old girl could certainly be considered production and distribution of child pornography. They weren't even charged with that.

The other 4 17 year olds and their attorneys obviously felt there was a sufficient case against them for rape since they took a plea.

This wasn't some lover's lane incident between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. This was at best planned exploitation and most likely rape with a planned distribution of the tape of the incident.

I'm sure the one who got 10 years could have taken a plea too but chose to fight it. Well, as Martha Stewart knows, when you don't take the plea you usually get the maximum sentence if you force the state to go to trial and lose.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
OK look at the facts of the case before you totally slam Georgia. 5 17 year old boys take a 17 and 15 year old girl to a hotel room.

They took a video tape recorder with them - so I would say there was some premeditation to film the 17 and 15 year old girl. I doubt the tape was meant to stay locked in a drawer. Taping and distributing sex acts with a 15 year old girl could certainly be considered production and distribution of child pornography. They weren't even charged with that.

The other 4 17 year olds and their attorneys obviously felt there was a sufficient case against them for rape since they took a plea.

This wasn't some lover's lane incident between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. This was at best planned exploitation and most likely rape with a planned distribution of the tape of the incident.

I'm sure the one who got 10 years could have taken a plea too but chose to fight it. Well, as Martha Stewart knows, when you don't take the plea you usually get the maximum sentence if you force the state to go to trial and lose.

Glad I'm not to be the only one that feels this way. We're not talking about a couple of kids necking in the backseat of a car here.

Sure the law was bull**** but it's still tough to feel sorry for this *******.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Deity Dude, true, there is more here than at first glance. It isn't two love birds who are suffering, but a group of older teenage guys with a couple of girls, one who is a couple years younger than the guys. It's a little more shady than the initial implication.

[Heresson]

Idiotism. I wouldn't give him any sentence at all. They are basically the same age.

[Ned]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


I know of situations (custody cases) where kidnapping is ethically justified. and then there was the time i ran a stop sign, and there was no one else around, and it was perfectly safe, and i was in a hurry and .....

How about we just drop things like laws against theft, murder, kidnapping, speeding, etc, and we just ask that everyone behave ethically, and then you make the court the final arbitor of justice?

People need bright lines, cause they kinda need to know what theyre liable for. Now you can combine a line with some exceptions, or whatever, but you still need the line.

When birht line statutes create injustices, as here, bright lines are wrong.

But more, I think states power to legislate in areas of private conduct should be limited. Statutes should be narrowly tailored to meet specific needs of society. Overbroad statutes should be found unconstitutional, IMHO.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Heresson
Idiotism. I wouldn't give him any sentence at all. They are basically the same age.

I agree.

[Victor Galis]

Re: Re: This frikkin' insane!

Originally posted by Zkribbler


And...as a registered sex offender, he will be subject to the 2,000-feet ban on coming near a school or playground, which pretty much means he won't be able to live in any city.

Or you know... finish his own schooling.

I though stuff like that did not happen in the civilized world.

Who claimed GA was civilized?

[Qwertqwert]

What's the sentence usaually for 1st degree Manslaugher? 10-15 years?

I understand the stupidity of what happened, but still charging it as harshly as Manslaugher, that's a bit excessive.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

You guys want to hear a double standard!! Ill give it to ya. 15 yo in Georgia goes with his dad, hookers are available and the hooker blows him and they are both willing particpants, but wait no one is arrested cause they cant prove on tape the lady giving the blow job is old and the boy is 15 this is way to funny

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by Qwertqwert
What's the sentence usaually for 1st degree Manslaugher? 10-15 years?

I understand the stupidity of what happened, but still charging it as harshly as Manslaugher, that's a bit excessive.

1st degree manslaughter in most states is either life without parole or death row. Even if a 17 year old commits the crime.

What's the penalty in most states for 5 guys taking a 15 year old girl to a motel room and taping sex acts with her? Even if the ones who commit the crime are 17.

I'm sure there is alot of underage sex going on in Georgia that no one even takes a look at. In fact, the stereotype about the south is "marrying your 13 year old cousin" The reason this even went to trial is the totality of the situation, not the one detail that everyone here seems to want to focus on (15 vs 17)

I don't know about Finland, but this sure wouldn't fly in Michigan or any other state as far as I know.

Remember 4 of the guys took a plea because they thought they would be found guilty of rape. If the 5th had taken a plea he wouldn't have gotten 10 years. Like I said earlier, if Georgia really wanted to be hard asses they probably could have sent him away alot longer.

I know Europe has different standards, but production with intent to distribute a sex tape of a 15 year old girl is not looked upon lightly in the US. That probably could have gotten him and his friends an extra 20 years if they really wanted to be hard asses. Even if a 17 year old commits the crime.

I'm surprised there isn't some sort of action against the hotel. I don't know about Georgia, but in Michigan you have to be of age and show ID to rent a hotel room. Why? Because 14, 15, 16, 17 year olds will do stupid stuff when they get in these situations.

So many posters here keep treating this like it is a boyfriend and girlfreind out on a date at the drive-in or something. Open your eyes and look at what really was going on here.

[Heresson]

Originally posted by Ned


I agree.

Ned agrees with me. I must be wrong

[Arrian]

Deity Dude and Darius have a point here in that there was pretty clearly exploitation going on here. The law was unduly harsh (hence my "it's Georgia" comment), but it's not like this kid did nothing wrong.

-Arrian