Young people in California become increasingly at risk of
danger from sexual predators because some civil courts rule that minors could make
decisions about who they could have sexual intercourse with.
In 2010, a 28-year old middle-school math teacher began a
six-month sexual relationship with a 14-year old female at his school. The
teacher was convicted with charges of committing lewd acts with a child.
During the hearing, it was found she lied to her mother so
she could have sexual intercourse with her teacher. They went into a hotel and
admitted she engaged in voluntary consensual sex. According to LA Unified
Attorney Keith Wyatt, the girl is seen to be conscious of what she is about to
do.
In California, 18 years old is the age of consent. Despite the
threshold, a number of civil cases have said minors could consent to sexual
activities.
Despite Attorney Wyatt ensuring that LA Unified had no
negligence in the case, the jury found the school’s administration not at
fault. The decision is still under appeal.
However, other states in United States, according to Indiana
University Professor of Law Jennifer Drobac, have diverted from the criminal
law treatment of adolescent and juvenile consent.
