Dating app lands teen on sex offenders list after girl lied about her age

[Anonymous]

I saw this in the off-topic forum, but I think it's relevant for many parents of teenagers.
http://dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/490270.page

Parents need to warn their teenagers about this type of danger.

A 19-year-old Indiana man landed on the sex offender registry in two states after using an app to hook up with a girl who lied about her age.
Zach Anderson of Elkhart, Ind., used the "Hot or Not" app to connect with a 14-year-old Michigan girl who told him she was 17, CNN reported. Anderson had sex with the girl, and was later arrested.
A judge sentenced Anderson to six months in jail and five years probation — and placed him on the sex offender list in both Indiana and Michigan for 25 years.
As a result, Zach is not allowed to live at home with his 15-year-old brother and his parents. He is forbidden to go to the mall or walk around the park.

[Anonymous]

I think it's good you reposted this.

[Anonymous]

Not condoning the sentence at all, but this is a good reason to actually know the person you are having sex with.

[Anonymous]

This is nothing new. 20 years ago it was people complaining about underage kids using fake ids to get into bars and then sleeping with people they met there.

People who are underage are presumed not to have the maturity to understand what they're getting into, which includes the maturity to understand why they shouldn't be lying about their age. Therefore, the burden is on the adult to make sure they are having sex with an adult. If you're having sex with essentially anonymous strangers, there is the risk that they are not who they say they are and that this will get you into trouble. If you don't want that risk, don't have sex with anonymous strangers.

And really, he had sex with a 14-year-old. I highly doubt she looked 30 and he had zero reason to question her age. He wanted to believe that she was of age because he wanted to have sex with her, and didn't let pesky things like doubt get in his way, even though lying about age is not even remotely an unheard of phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

Where did you read that he's not allowed to go to the mall? I didn't see that in the linked article. Also, the reason he's wasn't allowed to return home is because his parents lived within 1,000 feet of a prohibited area for him. From the article, it sounds like his parents bought a new house that's not within a restricted area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did you read that he's not allowed to go to the mall? I didn't see that in the linked article. Also, the reason he's wasn't allowed to return home is because his parents lived within 1,000 feet of a prohibited area for him. From the article, it sounds like his parents bought a new house that's not within a restricted area.

Hard to find a place that's not within 1,000 feet of a school or a park or other prohibited places.

That portion of the laws was struck down by a judge in Michigan. It's draconian and unworkable.

[Anonymous]

There HAS to be more to this story. I don't buy that he didn't know her age and a judge would place him on a sex offender list. She probably told him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There HAS to be more to this story. I don't buy that he didn't know her age and a judge would place him on a sex offender list. She probably told him.

Nope. Sorry.

There are countless stories like this. NPR just did a piece on it, too.

Do judges have discretion? Or is this like mandatory minimums.

[Anonymous]

We're talking about a 14 year old here. I don't care how old she looked, a 14 year old is very, very different from a 19 year old. A 14 year old is still a child in many ways and has the thought processes of a child. I would hope that our society would place the protection of children high on its list of priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're talking about a 14 year old here. I don't care how old she looked, a 14 year old is very, very different from a 19 year old. A 14 year old is still a child in many ways and has the thought processes of a child. I would hope that our society would place the protection of children high on its list of priorities.

While this is true, many, many 14 year olds look like adults. I really feel for this 19 year old! He wasn't 40 or even 30- he was just 19 and thought she was 2 years younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're talking about a 14 year old here. I don't care how old she looked, a 14 year old is very, very different from a 19 year old. A 14 year old is still a child in many ways and has the thought processes of a child. I would hope that our society would place the protection of children high on its list of priorities.

Sorry, we're more concerned with making sure men can put their penises where they want consequence-free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're talking about a 14 year old here. I don't care how old she looked, a 14 year old is very, very different from a 19 year old. A 14 year old is still a child in many ways and has the thought processes of a child. I would hope that our society would place the protection of children high on its list of priorities.

Physically, there may be very little if any difference between a 14 yo and a 19 yo. Emotionally, sure. But...I could see me as a 18/19 yo missing the clues that she was only 14...it happened. I did not sleep with her, and was 18, but we would have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're talking about a 14 year old here. I don't care how old she looked, a 14 year old is very, very different from a 19 year old. A 14 year old is still a child in many ways and has the thought processes of a child. I would hope that our society would place the protection of children high on its list of priorities.

Physically, there may be very little if any difference between a 14 yo and a 19 yo. Emotionally, sure. But...I could see me as a 18/19 yo missing the clues that she was only 14...it happened. I did not sleep with her, and was 18, but we would have.

PP here. I want to add that this is a tricky area. Some form of call out may be appropriate, but sex offender list and jail for a first offense is ridiculous. There is no evidence that he is a predator. The burden of proof should be, was it reasonable to assume she was of age -- base it on physical appearance and what they said.

[Anonymous]

The girl and her mother testified that he shouldn't be placed on a sex offender list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The girl and her mother testified that he shouldn't be placed on a sex offender list.

Doesn't matter. Legally, a 14 year old is incapable of giving consent. A 14 year old is a child.