Maurice Washington Faces Charges

BigRedBuster said:
So, let me ask this.

If an 18 year old is dating a 16 year old and has sex, that is technically statutory rape.  Should we kick any player off the team that has done this?
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There's an age differential in most statutory rape laws (all the states I saw as I skimmed this site). For example, if the ages are within 2 or 3 years of each, then it's not illegal.

 
Moiraine said:
I was specifically talking about morality, not legality.

It’s illegal in California for 15 year olds to have sex with each other, but that doesn’t mean it’s morally wrong or more wrong than adults having sex with each other. 

I’m specifically talking to people saying “child porn child porn child porn” as if there is no gray area for an 18 year old viewing video of a 15 year old he dated that he received when he was 16.
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I agree with this.  But why in the world would he keep it?  That wasn't smart at all.

 
Moiraine said:
I was specifically talking about morality, not legality.

It’s illegal in California for 15 year olds to have sex with each other, but that doesn’t mean it’s morally wrong or more wrong than adults having sex with each other. 

I’m specifically talking to people saying “child porn child porn child porn” as if there is no gray area for an 18 year old viewing video of a 15 year old he dated that he received when he was 16.
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According to this site, that's not illegal in California.

Edit: Looks like I'm reading that wrong. There's differing punishments, but there's no close in age exceptions in California.

 
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BigRedBuster said:
So, let me ask this.

If an 18 year old is dating a 16 year old and has sex, that is technically statutory rape.  Should we kick any player off the team that has done this?
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Depends; is the 18 year old being prosecuted and/or been convicted of the crime? 

 
JJ Husker said:
I don't think anyone would like to see their daughter or sister experience what is alleged to have happened with this girl. I think the people who are rushing to judgement may be having a hard time imagining their son or brother being in MoWa's position though. I have a 24 yr old son and a 19 yr old daughter. Unfortunately in today's world these things are a very real issue. As in all things we do the best we can to enlighten them and give them as many tools as possible to deal with it and hope they make the right decisions. But they are still in the real world where this type of thing is commonplace and peer pressure and fitting in are likely more pertinent issues to them. It shocks and saddens me to know what some of these kids do on a daily basis, knowing they have failed to weigh the long term consequences and repercussions. Personally, I am not considering his status as a football player. That isn't influencing my thoughts at all. Honestly I am imagining this happening to HS friends of my daughter or my son or daughter. I feel very bad if in fact the girl was subjected to sexual assault (which we do not know for sure) and I feel bad for her if this came back to her in a revenge porn way. But until a lot more facts come out and it is proven otherwise, I also sympathize with MW and really feel it is wrong to throw about the phrase "child pornography" in relation to this situation. Kids don't magically transform just because they've attained 18 or 19 years of age. It's a travesty all around but I do wish people would hold their judgement, at least until the first facts are in and then maybe further until they actually know the motives and the people involved.
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This is really well stated.  

 
NM11046 said:
Thanks for that perspective - I totally understand your point.  Kids today have to be so much more careful than we did.  I wonder if we don't do them a disservice by not really preparing them for the lasting ramifications of stuff like this.  
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I agree that the action(s) will persist (really any action will, hence the need for laws) if there are no consequences, from which lessons can be learned.  I'm not sure that putting a felony on the record of every minor in possession of, and/or having sent a nude photo of, another minor is the best consequence, however.  I suppose it would scare the crap out of the person potentially being charged, and maybe that's the desired affect in this case.  

 
Moiraine said:
I was specifically talking about morality, not legality.

It’s illegal in California for 15 year olds to have sex with each other, but that doesn’t mean it’s morally wrong or more wrong than adults having sex with each other. 

I’m specifically talking to people saying “child porn child porn child porn” as if there is no moral gray area for an 18 year old viewing video of a 15 year old he dated that he received when he was 16.

My brother dated a 15 year old freshman when he was a senior. I didn’t ask but I’m guessing they did illegal things (for him). That doesn’t mean those things were morally wrong because she was a minor and he wasn’t. Both of their ages are relevant.
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That's where we differ; I'm talking about the pure legality of the issue, because that's ultimately how you're going to fairly determine what sort of punishment, if any, Washington will get. If he's 18 and in a relationship with a 15 year old, I have no opinion on that matter, because my opinion doesn't matter; as long as it's consensual between the parties and parents involved, then I couldn't care less. However, in this case, if we take the allegations at face value (not placing a value judgement on whether he's guilty or innocent), he is accused of obtaining an illegally recorded video, keeping said video, and distributing the video to an involved party with the intent of causing mental anguish or harm to that person, all of which fall under the purview of the California legal system. 

So, ultimately, it doesn't matter what type of a moral or value judgement you, me or anyone places upon it; it's purely a question of legality at this point. 

 
rocketlb said:
I agree that the action(s) will persist (really any action will, hence the need for laws) if there are no consequences, from which lessons can be learned.  I'm not sure that putting a felony on the record of every minor in possession of, and/or having sent a nude photo of, another minor is the best consequence, however.  I suppose it would scare the crap out of the person potentially being charged, and maybe that's the desired affect in this case.  
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Some of the things we’re talking about may make it hard to find a job but aren’t necessarily “wrong” and shouldn’t be made to be wrong (i.e. creating a consequence) by creating new laws.

 
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