Washington lawyer accused of paying 15-year-old runaway for sex

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:didn't she get arrested?

she should be! that slut teen was doing something illegal:prostitution.

You're trying too hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The widespread willingness to see this girl as fully consenting betrays a deep, deep misunderstanding of the world of prostitution. It's not as if this gal got on the phone one day and ordered Velvet Jones' "I Wanna Be A Ho" guide.

Here's my (educated) guess: she lived with a parent who neglected her or abused her or both. She ran away, to escape abuse, or to teach the parent a lesson. She might have met someone either before or after leaving her parent's home who promised her things that she wanted and couldn't get. It might have been Chanel handbags, or it might have been as simple as security and affection. He started sleeping with her, possibly through coercion or fear, or otherwise against her will, but more probably with her consent, because she was grateful to him for providing her living situation, and because a sexual relationship made her feel more grown-up and more secure in her relationship with him. And then the prostitution began. He keeps her (and others like her) under his control definitely with threats, definitely with some combination of giving and withholding affection, and possibly with drugs.

I do not doubt that girls who end up in this situation have behavioral problems, educational deficits, and unformed moral compasses. But to go from that to "she's a whore who was asking for it" is beyond simplistic. It's stupid. It's uninformed. It's inhuman in its lack of empathy.

Or she was just a drug addict or a rebellious teen. Her mother was the one who turned her in. Sometimes well off kids with good parents do screwy things, not just the sullen, abused ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The widespread willingness to see this girl as fully consenting betrays a deep, deep misunderstanding of the world of prostitution. It's not as if this gal got on the phone one day and ordered Velvet Jones' "I Wanna Be A Ho" guide.

Here's my (educated) guess: she lived with a parent who neglected her or abused her or both. She ran away, to escape abuse, or to teach the parent a lesson. She might have met someone either before or after leaving her parent's home who promised her things that she wanted and couldn't get. It might have been Chanel handbags, or it might have been as simple as security and affection. He started sleeping with her, possibly through coercion or fear, or otherwise against her will, but more probably with her consent, because she was grateful to him for providing her living situation, and because a sexual relationship made her feel more grown-up and more secure in her relationship with him. And then the prostitution began. He keeps her (and others like her) under his control definitely with threats, definitely with some combination of giving and withholding affection, and possibly with drugs.

I do not doubt that girls who end up in this situation have behavioral problems, educational deficits, and unformed moral compasses. But to go from that to "she's a whore who was asking for it" is beyond simplistic. It's stupid. It's uninformed. It's inhuman in its lack of empathy.

Everyone who's said this child (which is what she is) is a slutty 15 y/o and a whore and whatever other misogynistic horseshit that's been spewed should be ashamed of themselves. I hope you never have a child that someone takes advantage of or hurts in anyway.

[Anonymous]

the ignorance about the dynamics of sexual exploitation is astounding.

if you are a minor, you are a victim, PERIOD. (so says the law, so says everyone who can think straight.)

there is a huge difference between teens having sex with each other v. a teen being pimped out on a street to a 40 year old lawyer. if you can't see the difference then you really should do some research on sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking.

[Anonymous]

If he still has any decency, he will plead guilty so that 15 yr. old and his wife and children do not have to go through a trial, He will go to prison and when he is released he will be on a list of sexual predators. His future is gloomy to say the least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh please, this guy isn't exactly a child molester. An almost legal young woman was prostituting herself and he took her up on it. The age disparity is gross but to compare this guy to someone who took the innocence of a small, helpless child is emotional and way off base.

Totally agree. He's hardly a threat to the safety of the community.

It's called a Moral Compass. And no, there isn't an app for that.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree. He's hardly a threat to the safety of the community.

Well, then, you just don't agree with what the laws on sex offenders/registration of sex offenders are, which is fine and your right to do.

[Anonymous]

so the posters who think he is not a child molester would not mind this man being around your teenage daughter? I suppose you don't mind high school teachers having relations with their teenage students either?