Last night as we ate dinner the Steubenville rape case was being discussed on the news. My radical, outspoken daughter declared the boys guilty, and I said there were two sides to every story and we simply could not just make this declaration. My husband verbally interceded before the discussion went off the rails. Today we were greeted by the news of the boys guilt when we got home from church. This is a sad day for all parties involved. The boys are going to a detention center until they turn 21 and the girl will live with the memories of that night. The judge after examining the evidence was convinced of the guilt of the boys, but how did this situation occur? Where were the parents of all of the children? We know you can’t police your children 24/7, but we have to do better than this. When the girl finally arrived home in a drunken state what was the reaction in her home? The judge spoke about the vile text messages sent and we all saw the awful photo of the boys carrying the drunken girl like she was garbage. Who took the picture? Why wasn’t he charged with something? They talk about digital penetration in the car. Who else was in the car? How did these minor children get their hands on so much alcohol? Who bought it? Was it an adult? If it was a minor what store sold it to them? What part did social media play in this case? Would the outcome have been the same if this case had not captured the attention of the nation? There are still so many questions, but on thing is certain today two young men are headed to a detention center, and their lives along with the victim are forever changed. Share your thoughts.
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I will not be surprised if there is an appeal on the issue of “rape” .
The question in my mind goes something like this, ‘…what if everything about the alcohol-infused party stayed the same except the treatment of this girl. What attitudes and/or ideas have we taught CHILDREN that this behavior towards another human being is NORMAL?’ We prob would agree that alcohol lessens inhibition but ultimately the treatment of this girl is evidence of how we value one another. The issue is complicated and not-easily-solved but it begins with how we see ourselves and how we see others. Are we just animals in an evolutionary chain or are we created in the image of something bigger than ourselves?
Below is a post on my timeline shared with WSYX ABC 6 , viewable by ALL .
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Thank you for inviting my thoughts ; there is no common law crime in Ohio .
WSYX on ħ did a fair job on its reporting by using the term equivalent to a finding of guilty .
The trial judge , on camera , clearly stated that he was “adjudicating” the defendants “delinquent.”
The media and the public used many keystrokes to comment on the allegations and the findings of the court .
Ohio Revised Code §2907.02 describes several methods of “rape” .
Two methods were neither alleged nor proven , viz., age under 13 and use of force.
¿ Where has it been said that either or both of the defendants had been “administering any drug, intoxicant, or controlled substance to the other person surreptitiously or by force, threat of force, or deception.” ?
(§2907.02 (A)(2)
I did not view the charge nor attend the trial , but from what has been reported , it seems that the defendants may have been guilty of sexual battery (§2907.03 (A)(2)
IF true , THEN the defendants may have been charged with and adjudicated delinquent for the wrong offense . [ My ▬► ◄▬ below ]
2907.03 Sexual battery.
[ Note: A third degree felony when other person is age thirteen or older ]
(A) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another, not the spouse of the offender, when any of the following apply:
(1) The offender knowingly coerces the other person … (apparently not applicable here)
▬► (2) The offender knows that the other person’s ability to appraise the nature of or control the other person’s own conduct is substantially impaired.◄▬
(3) The offender knows that the other person submits because the other person is unaware that the act is being committed.
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2907.02 Rape. [ Note: a first degree felony ]
(A)
(1) No person shall engage in sexual conduct with another who is not the spouse of the offender or who is the spouse of the offender but is living separate and apart from the offender, when any of the following applies:
(a) For the purpose of preventing resistance, the offender substantially impairs the other person’s judgment or control by administering any drug, intoxicant, or controlled substance to the other person surreptitiously or by force, threat of force, or deception.