159 replies to this topic

[Terry]

There are several reasons this may just now be coming to light. Oftentimes, victims are embarrassed or scared to report -- especially if they are somewhat "willing" participants at the time. It's possible the girl had regrets later, was too embarrassed to say anything, and saw yesterday's article -- worrying about this guy putting himself in situations in which he is alone with young students. Perhaps yesterday's story triggered her reporting her own incident.

If the teacher truly molested a student, he is a scumbag. Even if he thought she was a "willing" participant (and we don't yet know the details), he broke the law, broke the education code of ethics, and took advantage of her naivete. A 34 year old man isn't looking for a "meaningful relationship" with a teenage girl less than half his age. He's looking to get what he can get and the girl probably felt older (with him playing into that) and thought he really liked her. He's old enough to know better and did it anyway.

On top of that, he's now putting himself in a situation in which he has alone-time access to students of all ages (through his tutoring business). I don't believe this was coincidental or a desire to "be his own boss."
EDIT: Just saw the above post (which was posted while I was typing), which means the girl didn't see yesterday's article prior to reporting her incident. I do wonder whether she found out he was doing private tutoring prior to reporting...

And it's also possible this young girl may have just discovered she's pregnant, thus her parents pursued the charges.

[Dave Burrell]

Very good post. Excellent in fact. I agree with everything you wrote. See, I think we actually agree on everything here, we just appraoch it from slightly differing perspectives.

Oh, and RL, I didn't see you posting about this one:

High School Teacher Accused of Sex with Student Open this result in new window
Last updated 2/23/2005 - 11:18 PM
A female student teacher at McClatchy High School has been arrested for statutory rape after police found her in a car with a 16-year-old boy.

That was a whopping 20 miles away...

Thanks CV, glad we can agree on something...I know we have many differences of opinion but its good to have discussions about all sides of a subject, we all have our various opinions and thats what makes these forum discussions great...and heck I'm sure we all learn a lot about things too when we can hear all sides about it.

[Dave Burrell]

Not true, they learn it from Cosmo and their peers.  They've long stopped listening to their moms by then.

Unfortunately, this is the age (15-17) where moms and daughters usually butt heads, and often it's over how the child dresses (just ask me, I've been there)

That is very true, the mags and media tend make young women (and others too) think that they have to be a certain way in order to be accepted and well liked in society.

what ever happened to the girl next door? thats what's REALLY attractive, not some plastic pancaked make up covered fake woman.

[Dave Burrell]

My friend and I mentioned it earlier today, we understand now why he was acting so strange this last spring, notably in April when it occurred. He seemed not himself.

whoa! you may want to contact the PD and tell them about this - along with your friend.

Just a few weeks ago you were willing to bust some kids for smoking in their cars at the park - this is by far a more serious crime - this information would be very important to the investigation - give them a call, this time its serious.

[Dave Burrell]

California does have people from many states.  Perhaps they grew up elsewhere where it might not have been a big deal, and moved to CA. 

FYI - http://en.wikipedia..../Age_of_consent

# Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Alabama: 16
# Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, Texas: 17
# Arizona, California, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin: 18
# Colorado: 15 (17 if partner 10 years older and not spouse)
# Florida: 16 (If partner under 24), 18 (all other adult partners)
# Idaho: 16 or 17 (if partner less than 5 years older), 18 (all other adult partners)
# Iowa: 14 or 15 (if partner less than 5 years older), 16 (all other adult partners)
# Missouri: 14 (if partner under 21), 17 (all other adults)
# Nevada: 16 (heterosexual), 21 (homosexual)
# New Hampshire: 16, 18 (person in position of authority, see NH RSA 632-A:4 III.)
# New Mexico: 16 (18 if partner at least 4 or more years older than minor)
# South Carolina: 14 (Under state constitution)/16 (Under state law - appears to conflict with state constitution).
# Washington: 16 (18 if partner is at least 60 months older, in a significant supervisory relationship, and uses that relationship to engage in sex with the minor).
# Wyoming: 16/18 (conflicting laws appear to set two different ages of consent)
# Military: equal to the state the base is located in if the state law is 16yrs or greater else 16 if the state law is less that 16yrs; homosexuality grounds for dismissal

Are you saying that its ok for a 34 year old man to have sex with a 16 year old because he came from another state???

[Dave Burrell]

Let's set Mr. McEvoy aside since he hasn't been tried or convicted.

Some of these posts defending a 34-year-old having a relationship with a 16-year-old are very disturbing.

First of all, even if you think 18 is a made-up age for adulthood and a 16-year-old could act like an adult and consent, isn't a 34-year-old supposed to BE AN ADULT  and know better?  This would be especially true given the fact they are in a position of authority whether it be teacher, doctor, clergy, etc.

As for teenage girls dressing like whores, that will never make it acceptable for a grown man to attack them, no matter how immature the girl's behavior.  I thought we were all past the "she was asking for it" era.

OUTSTANDING POST! very well said - especially the parts in bold

[CostcoLover]

I don't have life figured out either.  That's exactly the point.  You have the maturity to know that.  A 16-year-old doesn't. 

The only reason I posted in the first place is it seemed like some others were making up excuses as to why it may be the girl's fault IF this did indeed happen.  I'm not trying and convicting anyone.  I'm merely, joining the dialogue.

If he did do it, as the girl is only 16 and the law in CA is clear, no matter what she did, it can't be her fault - at least in the eyes of the law.

Interestingly, there are many states and countries that don't agree with your position.

Do we simply state that all those countries and states are 'wrong' because of our own beliefs on the matter? One can make the argument that there are many 18yr olds that don't have the maturity to have sex. Should change the law to 19? 20? 21? Perhaps some teenagers do have the maturity to understand.

There are some teenagers on myfolsom that if I didn't know better, I would think they are in their 20s or 30s, just from the maturity of their posts, and some adults who sound like teenagers.

[tessieca]

Someone please correct this!! Do Idaho and Iowa really allow for molestation of children 5 and under so long as the perpetrator is only 14???

[CostcoLover]

Are you saying that its ok for a 34 year old man to have sex with a 16 year old because he came from another state???

I'm simply showing that it's a matter of differences in perception. As you can see, there isn't agreement among the states (some state laws even contradict their own constitution on the matter) and certainly no agreement around the world.

If you refer back to the post you'll see that in some states an adult and a 16yr old could have sex and it wouldn't be against the law in that state. Also true of many countries around the world.

I'm not suggesting that it's right or wrong, I'm simply pointing out that we each grow up with our own perceptions of the world based on the laws and limits imposed upon us by the environment we grew up in.

I'm sure if it happened in a state or country where it is not illegal, you would still object, but that's more of a statement of your values/beliefs than of the legality of the act itself.

If you take the position that you simply obey the laws in which you happen to be, then you're saying you condone this behavior depending on the laws of the locale.

If you take what you believe to be the 'moral' high ground based on religion, etc. then you're saying that your views are the only correct ones because it happens to be what you believe.

Before you answer, keep in mind that laws are always changing with the times.

While there is no universal 'right' answer, it's clear that in this case, because of where the act happened to occur, and the laws of this state, if he did commit this act, then he's guilty.

[CostcoLover]

Someone please correct this!!  Do Idaho and Iowa really allow for molestation of children 5 and under so long as the perpetrator is only 14???

You're misreading this Tess. Perhaps your interpretation is better for massive numbers of posts on the forum. Here's how I read it.

# Idaho: 16 or 17 (if partner less than 5 years older), 18 (all other adult partners)
# Iowa: 14 or 15 (if partner less than 5 years older), 16 (all other adult partners)

Idaho - 16 if the parter is less than 5yrs older - 21. If he's 22 and the girl is 16 (or vice versa) then it's illegal. Likewise with Iowa.

[FolsomJunior00]

Cogswell, thats too much wishful thinking! Are you kidding? As citizens of America its our duty to make a conclusion based on zero facts and before we get any of the real details of whats going on!

Kind of like in Team America: World Police with the Film Actors Guild.

"As members of the Film Actors Guild it is our duty to read what is put in the paper and then go out and state them as if it were our opinion!"

America, F&*k Ya

[TheCourtJester]

I'll just start by saying I think most of this thread is bloody disguisting.

Was he convicted? NO! Are you on the jury? NO! Do you have any idea what you're talking about?

You can rant and rave all you ant about how "Child molestation is the worst crime ever," "He shouldn't have acted on that impulse...BLAH BLAH BLAH" until you're blue in the face, but until there's irrefutable proof that he actually DID something, your words are about as meaningful as the noise from excessive flatulence. Open the doors, it stinks in this thread!

Yes...I'm agreeing with Uberman on something...this is HARCORE. Innocent until proven guilty. Until then, just....NO.



EDIT : Oh wait..."see sig for response."
This should have been locked on the first page.

[anonymous]

I'll just start by saying I think most of this thread is bloody disguisting.

Was he convicted? NO! Are you on the jury? NO! Do you have any idea what you're talking about?

You can rant and rave all you ant about how "Child molestation is the worst crime ever," "He shouldn't have acted on that impulse...BLAH BLAH BLAH" until you're blue in the face, but until there's irrefutable proof that he actually DID something, your words are about as meaningful as the noise from excessive flatulence. Open the doors, it stinks in this thread!

Yes...I'm agreeing with Uberman on something...this is HARCORE. Innocent until proven guilty. Until then, just....NO.
EDIT : Oh wait..."see sig for response."
This should have been locked on the first page.

The only irrefutable proof needed will be her word against his. That is the way it works with sex crime accusations. Chances are today, if you are accused of a sex crime, you are going to go down. Defendants in these types of allegations arenot innocent until proven guilty (just read this thread); the burden of proof will be on him to prove he didn't do it - not the other way around. Rape shield laws will prohibit any questioning of an accuser's sexual conduct, credibility, motive, ect. And if the case makes the newspapers and becomes a high charged political issue like happening on a school campus public and political pressure will mount against you -a bloodthirsty DA might get ahold of the case and rather than seek the truth will only focus on a way to prove guilty - Essentially - an accuser gets to make the accusation and the defendant will have to fight the charges with his hands tied behind his back. Unless you've been the victim of the system in this type of situation you go on believing the system works, the DA's are all good guys and the newspaper reports the truth.

[forumreader]

Court Jester:

On one level I understand your disgust with this discussion. We would all hope that the principle of "guilty until proven innocent" is meaningful. However, most people are sickened when they hear of incidents and alleged incidents of sexual abuse. It could be that in many of the previous posts, forum members were venting their disgust over the prevalence of sexual abuse in communities throughout the country. Honestly, I would be very concerned about our Folsom community if people were not reacting strongly to this story. It might suggest that we had become desensitized to s/a.

Yesterday my freshman son came home with a letter from the FHS administration, addressing this matter. My son also shared his thoughts on a discussion held in his English class. It seems that most students reacted to the alleged s/a incident with disgust and shock, as many of us have done on this board. Apparently, without "taking sides," the teacher suggested that these freshmen consider what it means when a wrongdoing is ALLEGED. The teacher did not apologize for the alleged perpertrator, nor diminish the importance of prosecuting sexual predators. According to my son, at the end of the discussion, my son's peers generally agreed that judgement should be withheld until the case had been processed through the legal system.

Good job, Ms. "FHS English teacher"!!

Later in the evening, my son said to me, "Mom, you know, whether this guy is guilty or innocent, a lot of lives have been messed up.".......So true.