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

[Anonymous]

If I was part of the jury at his trial and the victim looked like she was older than 18, I would not find him guilty of child prostitution/pornography - only prostitution.

[Anonymous]

then you would not be applying the law.

[Anonymous]

Only if I had a slutty 15 year old daughter would I be concerned abt having this guy as a neighbor.

[aprilmayjune]

It surprises me greatly to see such a nonchalant response from some of the PARENTS on here!!!!!!!! How protected are your children going to be if you're defending actions of predators in the news. Stories like this should be viewed as an eye opener, and not a "well it's not that bad" attitude. Praying that your children just never come across people like this.

[Anonymous]

aprilmayjune wrote:It surprises me greatly to see such a nonchalant response from some of the PARENTS on here!!!!!!!! How protected are your children going to be if you're defending actions of predators in the news. Stories like this should be viewed as an eye opener, and not a "well it's not that bad" attitude. Praying that your children just never come across people like this.

I was originally thinking I hope they don't have daughters, but it's more than that. I pray their children never get hurt or in trouble and they have to hear strangers dissecting all the ways they deserved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only if I had a slutty 15 year old daughter would I be concerned abt having this guy as a neighbor.

It makes my heart hurt to see this much hatred of girls.

[Anonymous]

I feel for the 15 year old girl - bad choices, low self esteem, and serious mental/emotional probblems. However, to the extent that Mr. Gessler has a wife and kids, I feel most awful for them.

[Anonymous]

I'm really hoping some of these posters on here are trolls. I am totally disgusted by some poster's comments about young girls. And yes - 15 years old is young. And to condone this man's actions b/c - geez - she may have told him that she was older - is just unbelievable. It is statutory rape. Period. It is child pornography. Period. The fact that *you* think the 15 yo is some kind of slut or looked older does not change this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're surprised, OP? Not in the least, I hope.

Op here. No, I'm not surprised but I think it's unsettling. I'm sure there are molesters and criminals of all stripes in all neighborhoods. What I am surprised by is that the 15 yo has become the target of scorn rather than the 41 yo adult perpetrator. The 15 yo teen is still in many ways a child and vulnerable. Maybe she was (sexually) abused at home and that's why she ran away. You parents are calling her a slut and whore?

Those who are attacking the 15 yo, are you saying you wouldn't watch out for the teens and children in your neighborhoods at whatever median home value 'hood you live in because they "deserved" it? Children and teens like this surely come from troubled homes, even if their parents' have fluffy well-paid jobs. Teens like this also fall prey to pimps and become the equivalent of modern sex slaves. Believe it or not, it DOES happen even in the DC metro/suburban areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really hoping some of these posters on here are trolls. I am totally disgusted by some poster's comments about young girls. And yes - 15 years old is young. And to condone this man's actions b/c - geez - she may have told him that she was older - is just unbelievable. It is statutory rape. Period. It is child pornography. Period. The fact that *you* think the 15 yo is some kind of slut or looked older does not change this.

Agreed. I don't care what she said or did or wore or whatever - he's the adult here and he knew better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I was part of the jury at his trial and the victim looked like she was older than 18, I would not find him guilty of child prostitution/pornography - only prostitution.

Holy crap, are you serious?

This is why everyone needs to serve their jury duty - so that the reasonable people can outnumber those who would blatantly ignore what the LAW says for some unknown reason.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:What I am surprised by is that the 15 yo has become the target of scorn rather than the 41 yo adult perpetrator.

Something tells me that if the 15 year old had been a white girl from McLean and the 41 year old an illegal immigrant, reactions would be significantly different.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I am surprised by is that the 15 yo has become the target of scorn rather than the 41 yo adult perpetrator.

Something tells me that if the 15 year old had been a white girl from McLean and the 41 year old an illegal immigrant, reactions would be significantly different.

No question in my mind...

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I am surprised by is that the 15 yo has become the target of scorn rather than the 41 yo adult perpetrator.

Something tells me that if the 15 year old had been a white girl from McLean and the 41 year old an illegal immigrant, reactions would be significantly different.

Then there would be no question of who the victim is and who is the evil incarnate and all HELL would break loose.

[Anonymous]

To those of you who consider the 15 year old girl to be a victim...do you think 15 year olds in general should not have sex? Or just not have sex with men over the age of 18?
Because I'm quite sure there a lot of 15 year old girls who are sexually active.