Movie Summary

Male children (pre-18) in the USA are going to jail for having sex with female children for much longer, severe sentences than older females having sex with male children; this appears to violate the equal protection idea as a fundamental for our legal system.

The sensationalized stories about older female teachers having sex with young students and being lightly penalized relative to punishment of male teachers having sex with female students is well-documented.

Believe we should punish predatory sex, but the law is being applied to send children to jail and often in a discrimnatory (see below) way against males.

How could the current legal system be changed to protect children from predatory sex and ensure equal treatment of male and female offenders?

Example:

Sheboygan girl, 17, charged for allegedly having sex with boy, 14
By Eric Litke • Sheboygan Press staff • January 9, 2009

A 17-year-old Sheboygan girl was charged Thursday with misdemeanor sexual assault for allegedly having sex with her 14-year-old boyfriend.

Norma J. Guthrie, of 1034-A Michigan Ave., was in court a day after a 17-year-old Sheboygan boy was charged with a felony for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girlfriend.

Guthrie admitted having sex with the boy between 10 and 15 times, according to a complaint charging her with fourth-degree sexual assault. She faces a maximum of nine months in jail, if convicted.

Police began investigating when the boy’s mother reported he might be staying overnight at Guthrie’s house, the complaint said. Guthrie told police the boy had claimed to be 16.

On Wednesday, Alan J. Jepsen, 17, of 1416 New York Ave., was charged for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl who he claimed told him she was 16. Jepsen is facing a count of felony second-degree sexual assault, which carries a maximum prison term of 25 years.

The girl, who may be pregnant, had run away from home and was staying with Jepsen, a complaint said.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Haasch, who filed both complaints, said the misdemeanor charge was filed in part because Guthrie has no prior criminal record. But online court records show Guthrie has a pending charge of misdemeanor battery, filed in October.

Haasch would not say whether Jepsen has a prior juvenile record — which is typically sealed — but the boy has no adult charges listed in online court records.

Haasch also said the cases are different because Guthrie’s boyfriend is “almost 15,” with a birthday in February. Jepsen’s girlfriend turns 15 in April.

Jepsen is in jail in lieu of a $1,000 cash bond, while Guthrie was released on a $1,000 signature bond after her initial court appearance Thursday, jail officials said.

Both Guthrie and Jepsen were charged as adults. All suspects age 17 and older are charged as adults by default in Wisconsin, though they can seek a waiver into juvenile court.

Reach Eric Litke at (920) 453-5119 and elitke@sheboygan-press.com.