Statutory Rape Victim Lies About Age

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Should it be a defense or even an excuse in cases of statutory rape where the victim lies about their age and it is reasonable for the perpetrator to believe her? Why or why not? How would you feel if your child did something like this?

[huginnmuninn]

if the legal age is 16 and the victim is 15 then i think its reasonable to believe that the victim could have lied but if the victim is 8 then no i wouldnt believe it

[The Joker]

Isn't statutory rape consented by the 'victim'?

[nick]

Some kids look much older than their actual age, others look younger than their age. If someone had claimed they were 18 and anyone looking at them would think that they could well be 19 or 20 then that seems like it should be a reasonable defence, whereas if they were claiming to be 18 but looked about 14 it would not be a reasonable defence.
We're never going to get to a stage where you ask to see someones birth certificate before having sex with them.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

http://jonathanturley.org/2008/06/01/13-year-old-girl-reportedly-lies-about-age-leading-to-statutory-rape-conviction-twice/


This story is about a girl who lied about her age got two men sent to jail for statutory rape. The second man told her dad after discovering her true age.

[Raptor22]

http://jonathanturley.org/2008/06/01/13-year-old-girl-reportedly-lies-about-age-leading-to-statutory-rape-conviction-twice/


This story is about a girl who lied about her age got two men sent to jail for statutory rape. The second man told her dad after discovering her true age.

I mean she is 13, but that doesnt make the charges any less bullshit...

13 year old goes to the wrong kind of parties and hooks up with old guys...

Sad but it happened, not the guys faults. They shouldnt be punished their entire lives...

[CaptainObvious]

hahaha wow @ the last article. But let's be serious, she really doesn't look of age.

[Raptor22]

hahaha wow @ the last article. But let's be serious, she really doesn't look of age.

Drinking can work wonders on someones appearance...

Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder...