Man Gets Over A Year in Jail for Marriage to 14-Year-Old

FoxNews ^ | Feb 08, 2006 | AP

[bobjam]

PHOTOS

Click image to enlarge STORIES •Man Faces 50 Years for Marriage to 14-Year-Old•Wife Says Teenage Groom Is 'No Victim'•Teen Who Wed 37-Year-Old Says Relationship Was Consensual•Woman to Marry Man Who Shot Her FALLS CITY, Neb. — A 23-year-old man was sentenced to more than a year in prison Tuesday on a sexual assault charge filed after he impregnated a teenager, then married her last spring when she was 14.

Judge Daniel Bryan sentenced Matthew Koso to 18 to 30 months in prison, saying probation wasn't an option because Koso continued to have sexual relations with his underage wife.

"Marriage is one of our most sacred institutions," Bryan said, "and it appeared to be the answer in this case, but it can't cover up a crime, and it can't make it go away."

Koso and the girl legally married in Kansas in May, after the teen's mother gave the couple permission. Kansas does not have a minimum age as long as there is parental or judicial consent; Nebraska requires those getting married to be at least 17.

[bobjam]

I don't see how this should stand. The couple was legally married in Kansas. Nebraska is constitutionally required to uphold that (Full Faith and Credit Clause). I know what some will say: a 22-year-old got a 14-year-old pregnant. At least he's being responsible by marrying her and helping to raise the baby. For that he gets sent to prison and may be branded a sex offender for the rest of his life. Think of it- a man being branded a sex offender for having consensual relations with his legal wife.

[GOPJ]

He had no business having sex with a fourteen year old in the first place. He's where he belongs.

[LIConFem]

"Think of it- a man being branded a sex offender for having consensual relations with his legal wife."

And for not sherking his responsibilities. Had he driven her to an abortion clinic, they'd have made him Man of the Year.

[Knitebane]

Paging Jerry Lee Lewis. Jerry Lee Lewis, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Restorer]

What's the statute of limitations? Loretta Lynn's husband could be next in line.

[YourAdHere]

Jacko??

[Restorer]

This strikes me as classic zero-tolerance thinking.

[GOPJ]

So if a sexual predator marries his victim it's OK with you? What if she had been 6 years old? Would that still "work" for you? What's the difference? Really? Tell me.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Well shoot in some parts it'd have been OK if she'd been his cousin...

[ExcursionGuy84]

Weird.
I didn't find any reference in the article to the 15-year-old wife being "shot".

[bmwcyle]

Has anyone heard from pissant?

[Vaquero]

GOODNESS GRATIOUS GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!!

[Androcles]

You're right about the legalities if the article correct but it's still sickening. I have no sympathy for him....

[bobjam]

It would be different had he kidnapped and raped her- but that never happened. Rather, we had his wife begging the judge to not send him to jail. Don't forget that her mother signed the consent form for the Kansas marriage.

A hundred years ago this would not have been an issue at all. But that was in opprssive times when men couldn't drive the girl to an abortion clinic and rid themselves of the responsibility of their actions.

[TankerKC]

BUMP for later reading.

[Lazamataz]

Man Gets Over A Year in Jail for Marriage to 14-Year-Old

My primary question is, what is sexually appealing about a 14 year old girl???!? No breasts, hips haven't flared out in a womanly fashion yet.... It'd be like being with a young boy! :^(

[sitetest]

Perhaps the problem here is that sexual relations commenced before marriage. Thus, if the man had sex with the young girl only after having married her, there would be no crime. But the act of marrying her didn't expunge the crime of statutory rape committed prior to the marriage.

[agere_contra]

The real story here is that it's legal to have sex with a 14 year old in Kansas.

[agere_contra]

I mean: the real story here is that it's legal to marry and then have sex with a 14 year old in Kansas.

[jeremiah]

My neice got pregnant at age 15, from her 19 YO boyfriend. She attempted to file charges against him, but was basically snubbed by police. When she met with the boys parents, she found that the boys father was a sheriffs deputy, they had 3 girls living with them that were currently PG, the oldest was 15, the youngest 13. Of course all were pregnant by this POS 19 YO. My neice soon joined the clan, they all drew welfare checks and food stamps, making it a unique boarding house. My neice of course wised up, married someone with maturity and responsibly and is now teaching school for a living, and bible studies evenings and weekends.

The point is, this is a law that is selectively enforced.