Posted on 08/20/2007 11:32:16 AM PDT by rednesss
Judge dismisses sexual harassment charges against 2 Ore. teens
08/20/2007
By WILLIAM McCALL / Associated Press
Two 13-year-old boys accused of slapping girls' bottoms and poking or cupping girls' breasts at school apologized on Monday as a judge dismissed charges against the two, ending a six-month case that drew national attention.
The charges triggered a debate over whether such behavior in school should be considered criminal.
Four girls listed as victims by the prosecutors had asked the judge to drop the charges against Cory Mashburn and Ryan Cornelison.
Yamhill County Judge John Collins did so on Monday, saying it was in the "interest of justice."
A number of young girls were in the courtroom during the hearing. They included at least some of the four who asked that the charges be dropped, attorneys said.
During the brief hearing, the two boys faced the girls and apologized.
"I never intended to hurt you in any way," Mashburn said.
Cornelison told the girls: "I hope we can still be friends."
The News-Register newspaper of McMinnville reported that a "civil compromise" reached by prosecutors and the defense called for both boys to apologize, to pay each of the four girls $250 and to complete a "boundaries education" program.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys said they could not comment on the newspaper report or release details of the settlement because they are confidential.
Pressure has been building on prosecutors to drop the charges, with critics saying they had blown the matter out of proportion and were overzealous.
The boys, apparently inspired by the movie "Jackass," were accused in police reports of swatting girls on the bottom in a school corridor, grabbing girls' breasts on at least two occasions, teaming up to "dry hump" girls, poking girls' breasts and engaging in what's known as "party boy" dancing mimicking sexual intercourse.
They were originally charged with felony sex abuse, misdemeanor sex abuse and sexual harassment in February. Amid growing public opposition to sending the boys to prison and putting them on a sex offenders' registry, prosecutors first dropped the felony sex abuse charges and later the misdemeanor sex abuse charges, leaving the sexual harassment counts.
The judge dismissed the final charges following negotiations between prosecutors and the defense, and discussions with the four girls about whether they wanted the case dismissed.
So the girls were groped, grabbed, and dry-humped against their will ... and you're worried that the boys will have learned not to trust members of the opposite sex?
AND the girls get their first taste of winning the lawsuit-lottery, to the tune of $250...
Happened on more than one occasion during my public school years. I graduated from HS last May and received my Associates Degree in June <];^)~
The purple nurbles are indeed painful when applied to the extreme. This behavour is normally male to male and is not sexually inspired. Butt pinching...well, to be honest I see more females doing it to males than the opposite. I see it as senseless horseplay than anything else.
Apparently “dry humping” is “normal” behavior.
Who knew??
I agree with you. I would have called the cops. My daughter shouldn’t have to learn self defense against boys in school. You are right.
What kind of 13 year old goes around groping girls — repeatedly — anyway? That is a very sexually agressive act. I can’t believe the way some people are minimizing it — like it’s a mere childish prank. It’s not.
re the stigmatization: Juvenile records are usually sealed.
I think common sense, applied to the situation would judge that adolescents, acting like adolescents, does not constitute the full force of the law when the result is the child being branded a sexual deviant, with all the freight of that label in todays society for what was, in this case, a childish prank.
Uhh, they were originally charged with 5 measure 11 felonies. No juvie sealed records there, plus having to register as sex offenders for life.
Maybe you should get her a Barbie doll... math is hard.
maybe
True -- which is really the only place where the prosecutor really had discretion. Had they been a year or two older, and I'd want 'em in chains for a while.
The boys' age could be a mitigating factor, on the claim that they're sexually immature and unaware of what they were doing. At 13, though, especially nowadays, I think that's getting to be a pretty flimsy defense.
Regardless, what they did is still a serious offense. At the very least, they need to be removed from that school.
What kind of lawyer thinks every act between children is sexual in an adult context and should end up in the courts?
This entire fiasco could have been handled in the principle's office save for a prosecutor who wanted to make an example out of a couple of kids' stupid behavior.
The boys, apparently inspired by the movie "Jackass," were accused in police reports of swatting girls on the bottom in a school corridor, grabbing girls' breasts on at least two occasions, teaming up to "dry hump" girls, poking girls' breasts and engaging in what's known as "party boy" dancing mimicking sexual intercourse.
Quite a different scenario now, doncha think?
Applause Applause Applause Applause Applause Applause
“When it’s someone elses’ problem - It is minor - If it is mine - It is major!”
Comment:
No, my opinion would be the same, I would be mad if my daughter was involve but the opinion of filing charges against these boys would not change.
I would expect my daughter not to have encouraged such behavior.
However, if she did not use consenting behavior then I would hold the Child, Parents and school staff accountable.
I would certainly call school officials and give them opportunity to take appropriate measures.
I would also give a call to the the boys parents and let them know of my displeasure.
Very few posters are pooh poohing these boys behavior as being appropriate.
What most are concerned about is the propensity of NO COMMON SENSE AIRHEAD DISTRICT ATTORNEYS like Mike Nifong filing charges and looking for 15 minutes of fame.
I thought the boys received just punishment.
apparently inspired by the movie “Jackass,”
** The kind that watch the movie Jackass?? I don’t think they should go to jail BUT perhaps be taught to respect girls more. Boys need a lot of grooming and attention at that age by a strong father. I can’t imagine my husband ever advocating this kind of behaviour.
I think the re-education camp was excessive...and the money should have gone to a charity...like a battered woman's center...
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