Many Americans convulsed in paroxysms of moral outrage on Tuesday when Florida prosecutors dropped all charges against sexy middle-school teacher Debra LaFave for perpetrating a series of sexual acts on one of her 14-year old students. But, as you may reasonably infer from the title of this article, I do not share their outrage.
In fact, when this and similar cases first titillated national interest last summer, I wrote this article explaining why such outrage was unwarranted and delineating the jurisprudential principles and criteria that should decide these cases. I wrote in part that:
As a legal matter, the age to trigger statutory rape should be lowered to reflect the prevailing sexual mores of today’s society. Accordingly, we should put this ‘crime’ into context as follows: A teacher (male or female) having consensual sex with any student aged 16 or older should be fired and banned from teaching for life – but NO criminal charges should obtain. However, that teacher having sex with a student aged 15 or younger should be arrested and prosecuted on charges of statutory rape and related offenses…
Anyone who says that 16-year old boys will be psychologically damaged by having their sexual fantasies fulfilled by hot teachers either was never a 16-year old boy or is just talking puritanical rubbish! Because, with obliging teachers, no lesson could prove more educational, wholesome and, ultimately, useful for teenage boys.
Clearly, with Tuesday’s ruling in this case, coupled with the plea deal (3 years house arrest plus 7 years probation) her lawyers negotiated for similar acts she perpetrated on this same boy in a different county, LaFave will, in fact suffer punishment in accordance with my instructive and prescient guidelines (including mandatory counseling, which LaFave credits with helping her to realize the wrongfulness on acting on her predatory impulses).
NOTE: It might help those of you still shuddering with moral outrage to consider that, perhaps, this boy’s Mummy did not want him to participate in the prosecution of Lafave because she does not think he suffered much, if any, “harm”. (She claims it’s to protect her little boy’s privacy; no mention of psychological trauma whatsoever. But frankly, I wonder if it’s not to protect her from (her own) embarrassment.) After all, adolescent girls who are molested by middle-aged men, routinely testify under proper conditions to assist in the prosecution of their attackers….
Debra LaFave, sexy school teacher, Sexual assault
ric says
Politically incorrect. But all absolutely true! You are one brave and smart dude ALH.
Anonymous says
what do we do when “the prevailing mores of todays society” says lets not prosecute those who have been perpertrated on at age 10 and older? You obviously believe that children should set the guidelines as oppose to adults.
Jennifer says
LOL!!!
Hi Anthony
Do you realize I was trying to write a comment all day. Must be something wrong with this sysmtem. Anyway, I just want to say that only you can get away with mocking my morals. Before reading you today I wanted to lock up that pouting bitch and throw away the key. Excuse my french. But I agree with your guidelines. Unfortunately, no matter how clear they are some people like Anon here will still not get it.
I still think she’s a bitch.
Leon says
Love the title. This case has shown just how soft society has gotten when it comes to doing the right thing. Remember Mary Kay Letourneau? She got 7 years in prison. Or maybe it was because she wasn’t as pretty as Debra? Oh well. Here’s my take.
Anonymous says
ALH you are brave and unquestionably intelligent BUT so wrong here that my “shuddering” from yesterday has blossomed into full fever. First, this just stinks of a double standard. If some average looking male teacher in his forties was putting the moves on a 14-year-old coed, justice would be swift and final. Second, while I appreciate your attempt to overlay some present day common sense onto this case, the fact remains that she committed what I assume to be a felony in the State of Florida. If one were to look at the state of young males in this country, it seems that we need to be finding ways to cultivate their mental maturity as opposed to fostering an environment where sowing their young oats gets the customary “atta boy”. Lord knows there is plenty of time and opportunity for that during the alcohol laced college years. I also wonder how long before this woman is allowed to profit from her child endangerment with a book/movie deal?
Finally, I will go on record as saying this is one hot looking woman, but I trust we are not going to allow this titillating image/fact distort our notion of equal justice.
Rage……
ALH ipinions says
Fair points Rage
But should I infer from this that you are shocked, shocked (and still shuddering with moral indignation) that there’s unequal justice in America….
Are you aware that criminal statistics suggest that, for virtually every type of offence, women are treated more leniently than men. I recommend for your reading in this regard: Understanding the sentencing of women by Carol Hedderman and Loraine Gelsthorpe.
But your fever really concerns me. So please hold on a few more hours until “Good (news) Friday” for a political palliative…
In fact Leon
Latourneau only ended up doing her 7 years after repeatedly violating the very lenient terms of her probation.
Rebecca says
This girl is unbelievable. It’s amazing that she can get away with this nonsense about mental illness. She a manipulative woman who took advantage of a little boy. She’s not sick. She’s evil.
Gramps says
For almost two years I have been convicted to pray for Debra’s salvation. During that time I have gotten strong impressions that God wants her for some reason. Strangely God often picks his workers from among the worst. Just think how Jesus chose twelve smelly fishermen and in only three years trained them to be educated leaders. God turns darkness into light, evil into good and will turn Debra into a dedicated Christian worker. You’ll see!