Stuatory Rape

Brewster woman, 23, charged in rape of Kent boy, 16

At 16, the boy cannot consent to sexual acts. Apparently he doesn't have the mental maturity to do so. He can, however, be tried as an adult in the New York State judicial system should he be the one committing a crime. In that sense, the state does believe him to have enough mental capacity to understand his own actions. He can consent to a crime, but not sex.

Interesting.

I think this charge is completely uncalled for, which may be surprising. And don't get me wrong, if the genders were reversed, and the ages the same I still would be against pressing charges. The average age of virginity loss in the United States is between 16 and 17 - the same age as the "victim". Undoubtedly this sexual relationship was entirely consensual on behalf of both parties (as nothing to the contrary was even insinuated in the article. With an age gap of only 7 years, this is hardly a crime worth investigating.

I don't know how a relationship involving a high schooler and college grad (or someone of that age) would really work, but to each their own. Do I think it's normal? no. Do I think it's creepy? Slightly. Do I think it should be illegal? Definitely not.

Honestly, I think it comes back to the idea of sex being a taboo subject in America. For whatever reason, the government does not want people having sex. Talking about it, seeing it, doing it, is all kept under wraps. Maybe we think 16 year olds aren't mature enough to be having sex because no one is talking to them about sex.

Maybe that's why he seeking it from someone older.

You may not be an adult at 16. There's still a lot of learning to do when you're that young. But I'm hoping we're giving driving licenses to people who are old enough to understand the world around them. At 16, you're free to operate a motor vehicle, to work, to go to jail, you should also be free to have sex.

Doesn't law enforcement have better things to worry about?