[newgeezer]

He was accused of having a sexual relationship ... with an 18-year-old student ... Duello faces up to five years in prison and a $7,500 fine if convicted. He also would be placed on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.

If "having a sexual relationship" with an 18-year-old (adult) woman is all it takes to be charged with "sexual exploitation by a school employee" and, if that's all it takes to get his name in the sex offender registry, I have to think the integrity of the registry would be damaged. Too much of that and, before long, the registry approaches worthlessness. Is so-and-so in there because he's a potential menace to society? Or, did he take a leak on some bushes after a party?

I mean, if this guy was not a school employee, would this even be a crime? If not, he doesn't belong in the sex offender registry. Revoke his teaching certificate, blacklist him around the country, do whatever it takes to keep him from teaching ever again, if that's what you want to do. But, she's 18. If she consented, if he didn't assault her, don't water down the sex offender registry with stuff like this.

[coconutt2000]

He was a figure of authority, which is why he is being charged and placed on the sex offender registry.

If he happened to just be a random guy that had a sexual relationship with an 18 year old high school senior, I doubt there'd be charges filed. But he isn't a random guy.

[TheKidster]

He isn't a hot blond woman in her Mid 20's to early 30's. If he was there'd be no issue.
It's only a sexual crime when a man uses his position of influence in the school system to get laid by students. If a hot chick does this, the age of the victim is not of consequence nor is the reality of abuse.

[doc30]

This sounds a lot like the case down in Texas. Such behavior on the part of a teacher is universally condemned, but many people here have pointed out that 18 is above the age of consent. The article doesn't go into details, but it sounds like a consenual relationship (i.e. no rape charges). You can't make a law criminalizing actions for one group of people that is perfectly legal for everyone else. Sure, the coach should lose his job. But he should not be facing felony charges.

I agree with you on the databases. Some states seem to put anything with a sex related angle on them. Some jurisdictions put prostitutes and their johns on the list, or public nudity (i.e. flashers) on these lists. I think that's why they also have sexual predator lists as well as sex offender lists.

[JamesP81]

I mean, if this guy was not a school employee, would this even be a crime?

Probably not. With me, it's an equal protection issue. This guy is treated differently because of his profession, and that doesn't seem right to me. Now, I think he definitely shouldn't be a teacher anymore, age of consent or not. Similarly, a company may have policies against a supervisor sleeping with an employee. This is an issue for workplace disciplinary action; it does not belong in a criminal courtroom. We have too many other real criminals and terrorists on our hands to be dealing with two consenting adults having sex.

[Bigg Red]

I mean, if this guy was not a school employee, would this even be a crime? If not, he doesn't belong in the sex offender registry. Revoke his teaching certificate, blacklist him around the country, do whatever it takes to keep him from teaching ever again, if that's what you want to do. But, she's 18. If she consented, if he didn't assault her, don't water down the sex offender registry with stuff like this.

&&&

You are correct, IMO.

[paudio]

Too bad for him that he was not a US President and did the act in Oval Office... He would go free, and if he's married, his wife could become a senator from a state that they never lived...