momof5> it doesn't say the girl consented to having sex. But, your point is valid and many young girls should take it to heart. All I can say is that working for years with children 'in the system', children removed from their homes for various reasons--neglect, abuse, and those who have been removed because they have committed crimes, I can tell you there are more sexual predators under the age of 18 out there than the general public knows. In fact, there are are many under 16 and even younger. It's quite scary, when parents work so hard to protect their children against adult predators, they lack in teaching children about predators that are their own age or close to it.

I think there should also be some focus on young girls who think they are physically and emotionally prepared for sexual intercourse at a young age. I'm not saying that excuses this guy (or if that that's even what happened) but come on... Girls walk around with their boobs hanging out, shorts so short their butt cheeks aren't covered and they act much older than their physical age. Some think they can make "big girl" decisions even though they are barely removed from playing with Barbies and imitating Hannah Montana. Being 18, he absolutely knew better than to exploit this girl (if that was the case here). But, our youth today needs to learn to stop exploiting themseleves!!!

And, to keep playing devil's advocate here: let's say this was his girlfriend. How was he suppose to know she was let's say 12? I've seen 12 year old girls that I would bet the farm on them being 16-18!
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Now...if this girl was say 8 or something...I say send him to the local steer farmer and have him turned into one....the old-fashioned way!

This story should remind us that most sexual assault comes from a family member or friend, not from some intruder.

18+12=60
No excuse for this act.Hope you do the full sentence

If his lawyer can get the same judge as the one who sentenced the rapist from Milton, he can get off with a year of house arrest!

If he is found guilty, lock his butt up for 60 years and throw away the key. Spare the exploitation of another inocent victim. These are predators for which there is no rehab.