A Brush With Measure 11

A defense investigator and a defense attorney say their client is innocent, how original! She admits a relationship outside the club, denies it's sexual but does what lovers do to the boy in public.

As far as a dispute between the cops and the club, so what? She wasn't convicted by the cops, she was convicted by a jury.

Judge Campbell is a shining example of why the voters passed Measure 11 to begin with. I wonder if she would have been so lenient if the defendant were a man? Some people still have trouble grasping the idea that women can be sex offenders and mess up young boys.

If in fact she and this child were "lovers" and its been noted spent plenty of time with him and his family away from the facility do you REALLY think any one with a half an ounce of brains would feel the need to display their affections in Public? Please!!!!!!!!! it is idiotic to think such a thing. This is a beautiful educated woman thats only crime was her passion to help the disadvantaged not passion for this boy as a suitor.

Well, equality is a b*tch. Dozens, if not hundreds of men/boys are sent to prison yearly for exactly the same thing. It only becomes and issue when a female is affected.

There are two sets of justice, one for males and one for females. If Ms. Rodriguez had been male and the student female, WW would have yawned and gone back to bashing Sho.

I agree that the US has well earned the nickname Saudi America for it's bizarre and oppressive treatment of sexuality but that's the way it is. Women wanted equality and now they're getting it. Hope she takes up knitting.

You're gay and live in your parent's basement, huh?

All that means is the system has some serious issues. Even *if* she is truly guilty (all circumstantial evidence as far as I can tell), the punishment far out-weighs the "crime". I was not at the trial. Regardless, your "well, guys are abused by the system" argument doesn't follow logic. Fallacies that I can discern: "Non Sequitor" and/or "Appeal to Common Practice".

You are saying a male would go to prison for 6 years if a teenage female's head came in contact with his clothed chest? huh? Is this a regular occurrence? I have never heard of anyone, male or female, being considered a molester for having casual contact with a chest.

It is bizarre that anyone would even think this was crime ( if thats all there is to it).

haha greg i think it might be different for a guy to put a girls head to his clothed chest because he doesnt have breasts.....mabey.....possibly............ im no expert though....... just my two cents

I still believe that Measure 11 removes valuable judicial discretion in sentencing. Both the article and the comments show the wide range of these types of violations.

With all due respect to the valid points made by the "tough on crime" crowd, justice requires judgement. Legislators and voters are not in a position to judge individual cases based on the facts.

Ruining the lives of Oregon defendants by reacting to the fear of sex crimes rather than judging facts and legal arguments is both immoral and dishonorable.

We can do better.

We should repeal Measure 11.

"Valuable judicial descretion" kept our streets flooded with criminals and an astronomical crime rate. Portland's homicide rate dropped from 50 per year to about a dozen a year within a few years of it passing. Young, violent criminals were taken out of society before they reached the level of actually killing people.

If you repeal measure 11, count on violent crimes skyrocketing again.

Judges should stick with making sure the law is followed, not making it themselves.

Wow Ret I'm trying to figure out whether your comment is based on hyperbole or delusions. With statments like "streets flooded with criminals and an astronomical crime rate" it makes me wonder where you were living at the time. Accoring to that you couldn't walk 10 feet down any Portland street with out getting murdered. I'm amazed anyone survived at all. Find me one study with actual facts to back any of your statements and maybe I'd be able to take your rantings halfway seriously.

No, Ret's absolutely right. I wore a flak vest in the Portland suburbs prior to Measure 11 passing. Now that it protects us I frequently stop to pet passing kittens on Southeast 82nd.

"Rodriguez was alleged to have stood in a bathroom doorway while the boy fondled her breasts. That charge resulted in a hung jury."

Hah ha! Fondling breasts, hung jury... Hilarious. Does WW not have proof readers?

:-D

@Jefe: "Does WW not have proof readers?"

We do, but they'll always be outnumbered by our arrested-adolescent readers.

Perhaps you've seen Ali G's exchange with former AG Dick Thornburgh about hung juries:

Ali G: "Surely the size of their dongs, whether they is hung, won't affect their judgment."

Thornburgh: "Oh no. A hung jury is one that cannot agree. It has nothing to do with physical characteristics."

Jurisprudes don't stand a chance.

Actually I haven't ever watched Ali G. I usually go for actual comedians and leave poseurs to the MTV/Jackass/Simpleton crowd.

Anyhow, it just struck me as amusing that nobody read that and thought, "Hey guys, is this really what we want to go with?" No biggie.

So quick to judge!! I sure hope that the cowards who made this absured accusation against an amazing young woman with a promising future can face their maker in the end. Justice? Serving prison time for something that both parties admit never happened? It's easy to spin the truth and make ANY innocent situation look dirty. Some people have a hard time grasping the fact that there are still good people in this world trying to make an honest difference with out youth. What are YOU doing to make a difference and help out our troubled youth?

This is just INSANE! Are they serious?! For running her fingers through his hair Ms.Rodriguez is thrown in prison for a year (possibly more?) & classified as a sexual predator?!?!

Meanwhile, catholic preists have free reign to rape children as they please, using the Church as a [willing] shield!

not only that, but if Ms.Rodriguez had children ov her own & were allowing them to STARVE & go in filthy clothes, she's be charged with *child-neglect* a pissant MISDEMEANOR! She would get NO jail time & her kids would be taken away from her for acouple ov measly monthes!

Also, the fact that this poor woman is LATINA/NON-WHITE can not be over-looked here.

If you have ever looked for a job, on the last page when you can do the survey part, why don't you try and read the classifications.. Because in there, it specifically states -- Caucasion - Latinos..

Spanards are Caucasions (which for you that cant' read is WHITE)..

this case has nothing to do with race, just LIBERALS GONE WILD

Defendant met the victim's mother and siblings at the victim's basketball games. She developed a close relationship with the family, including the victim. She visited them at their home frequently--for a period, she went there nearly every day after work. She helped the victim with his homework and often ate with the family. She sometimes gave the victim a ride home from the club and drove him to school in the morning. All of defendant's contact with the victim outside of club-organized activities violated the club's rules.

Over time, defendant's relationship with the victim became exceptionally close. Their conduct at and outside the club raised concerns among other staff members and became the subject of rumors among other children at the club, who called the victim defendant's "boyfriend." Defendant and the victim frequently hugged each other, and defendant sometimes put her arm around the victim when they walked. Defendant occasionally allowed the victim to sit on her lap in her office. He kissed her on the cheek between 10 and 20 times. She sent e-mail messages to him in which she said, "I love you" and "love you lots." The victim sent similar messages to her, including one that said, "[S]ee you later Babe I love you for ever," and another that ended, "I LOVE YOU SO ................. MUCH." Defendant took the victim with her on several trips to Bend and Spokane, two of which were overnight trips. The two were frequently alone together in her car, at her apartment, and at his home. They were seen alone together in her office at the club with the door closed.

On February 14, 2005, a staff member named Villalobos saw defendant and the victim in the game room at the club. There were approximately 30 to 50 youths and at least one other staff member in the room. The victim, who had since turned 13, was sitting on a chair. Defendant, who had since turned 25, was standing behind him, caressing his face and pulling his head back; the back of his head was pressed against her breasts. Villalobos crossed the room and pointed defendant and the victim out to Malunay, another staff member, who had his back to them. Malunay turned and saw defendant run her hands along the victim's face and through his hair while the back of his head was against her breasts. The contact lasted approximately one minute.

Villalobos later reported the incident to his supervisor, and the police were notified. Defendant was eventually charged with first-degree sexual abuse based on the incident. (1) A jury found defendant guilty.

www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/A1...

The fact that she is a woman cannot be overlooked. Ugly man = non issue. Hot female = reduced sentencing.

I'm not a big fan of Measure 11, but there is a larger issue of gender equity here.

The problem is definitional: what constitues "first degree sexual abuse" has expanded in Oregon in recent years to allow prosecutors to charge (and juries to find) that even innocuous touching like that in the Rodrigues case is -- if a jury finds that it was done with sexual intent -- a serious, serious crime. The act doesn't have to be "bad," only the defendant's intent (as deduced by the jury, of course). In other words, the touching doesn't have to be inherently sexual or harmful (parents embrace their children every day in the way Rodriguez embraced the boy); it's the thought that counts. Of course, the defendant's "thought" is deduced by jury members who 1) don't want to go home and tell friends and family they let a possible child molester off the hook, and/or 2) don't understand (because juries are not told) that by finding the defendant guilty of a bad thought, they are -- because of Measure 11 - ensuring a 75-month sentence and a lifelong stigma.

The definitional expansion of sex abuse was noted (dismissively) by the court of appeals in the Rodriguez case -- see footnote 8, which states:

"8. Defendant (Rodriguez)also argues that her offense should not be seen as particularly grave, given the history of Oregon's criminal code with respect to sexual conduct. She notes that, before 1971, the conduct for which she was convicted was not a crime in Oregon. Furthermore, she observes, until 1991, it constituted only a misdemeanor, see ORS 163.415 (1989), amended by Or Laws 1991, ch 830, � 1, and, from 1991 until 1995, when Measure 11 took effect, although a felony, it was not subject to any mandatory sentencing provision.

Notwithstanding that history, we do not share defendant's view. That history indicates only that society has evolving standards of conduct and, more importantly for present purposes, an evolving understanding of the seriousness of sexual contact between adults and children. In short, the historical perception of her conduct did not lessen its seriousness in 2005."

(Appellate decision)

I personally find it hard to believe that the drafters of the sex abuse statutes, and those who voted for Measure 11, truly intended people to spend 6 years in jail for hugging a 14-year old, while fully dressed, in public, while surrounded by other people. That was the ONLY act Rodriguez was found to have committed.

And one final thought: if the point of the sex abuse statutes and sentencing under Measure 11 is to protect children, can anyone disagree that the "victim" in the Rodriguez case was hurt much more by the persecution of this adult who had befriended him than by the brief hug in the common room?

Measure 11 was an irrational piece of legislation created to feed off the fear of the public and to enhance the career of a mediocre politician.

Regardless of the guilt or innocence in this case, it should have been left to the presiding judge to decide on this woman's fate.

There will NEVER be Gender equality in sex abuse cases...cuz the gender that is abused doesnt hold the power...women are not the judges, the DA's, the prison wardens, the PO's, the investigators, etc etc.....get real

Right you are, Klaatu!

Mike Hintz.....let me get this straight, he left a police agency to work as an investigator for the public defender's office. Hmm....doesn't sound like a lucrative career change. Wonder why he really left.

Just my opinion of course

I think this needs further investigation and a little less hand waving and daytime TeeVee horse****.

If she's innocent, cut her loose, remove her sexual offender status and the stigma that accompanies such a red badge, compensate her for her lost time and that's that.

If she molested and seduced the boys, nail her to the same tree to which you nail male pedophiles.

How did such a simple matter of law get so overwrought and soap opera-esque?

Somebody in this case is not doing their job at all and it's time we either suspended the criminal court system and tried all matters on Oprah, wearing face paint by a bonfire, or adhered to the process of jurisprudence.

Omigod! She may have hugged a child who was in counseling! Hang her, then shoot her, then put her in the electic chair. then draw and quarter whatevers left.

Sounds like a hug to me, and we can't have counselors around who care about troubled children. What if everyone was loving and caring toward everyone else?

My mom did exactly this more times than I can count, I guess she needs a gallows too. If this is First Degree, what would sex be?

Sounds like some jackass prosecutor trying to make a name for him/herself. And destroying a young counselor's life to do it.

Has anyone ever heard, "I love you but I am not in love with you"? This couldn't explain the phone messages?

Just wow.... this is too stupid.

Regarding one of the original posters above, I'll need to check statistics. I don't think Portland's crime rate is tha much better than it was prior to Measure 11. As it stands, Portland crime rate is currently higher than NYC's. Yes, they have reduced their rate, and Portland is not "dangerous", but it is no Shangri-La.

Which of you retards want to suggest that she actually did something wrong?

I can't believe this has happened. And the comments are all so prejudicial.

Are any of you parents? Have you ever been a teacher or a nurse? If you love people, you will offer a hug to a child who is hurting. I am a nurse and have done so more times than I can count.

I had nothing in mind but to comfort, actually any age. I see nothing wrong with it, and will do it again, whenever I feel it is needed. God is my judge and I think He approves.

Peggie, I most certainly do not approve.

I would not mind at all if the school nurse or a teacher hugged my kids as a sign of comfort. Don't any of you remember that when you were little just a hug from Mom or Dad made it all better?

As Gartlan wrote in his request to the Supreme Court, citing a hypothetical case: “Causing the back of a boy’s head to be placed against the clothed chest of a 23-year-old counselor is qualitatively different from causing a 12-year-old boy to place his tongue or his penis in the family dog’s anus.... The conduct in this case must be one of the mildest, most technical forms of ‘sexual abuse’ that one could contemplate.”

You know, I think Gartlan's got his/her own issues if giving a dog a rimjob is the comparison here.

You're thinking about Gartlan's issues vis-a-vis rimming a dog? Sounds like you've got issues Matt.

Besides dogs have feelings too you know. Only a really mean person would cock-block the family dog from getting a nice tonguing once in a while. I mean sheesh.

I am locking myself in my house and not coming out until ALL of you people are registered as sex offenders. Should be about two weeks, the way things are going.

Unless they're celeberties or work in the clergy, then they get a free "re-newable" pass.

Just because crime went up or down after passing measure 11 probably means nothing at all. Demographics (specifically ratios of teen boys to adults) is the strongest indicator of crime rates. No other parameter (laws, spending, religion, wishful thinking, etc.) comes within a factor of 10 as causative.

Since the baby boomers were and and the largest cohort *all crime has been going down regardless of **any other action** over the last 2 decades simply because the boomers are aging out of the population!!*

So if you must judge measure 11 (or *any other* "tough on crime measure", the only legitimate criteria is the damage it measurably prevents or causes directly in its use. Claims of crime reduction are unscientific garbage and political pandering - nothing else.

From the sound of it it's sounds like a net negative for measure 11.

Another shining example of how terrified the average American really is. We've lost our spirit of justice, deciding possibly imprison innocent people just in case most of them are guilty.

What a sad bunch of people Americans are becoming.

We live in an insane age and there really is little we can do about it. America's sexual psychopathy comes almost directly out of the general psychopathy of unrestrained religion. The effects are also seen in the still increasing inability of Americans to think, a skill downplayed for two generations or more in the national consciousness for obvious reasons. Could the disaster of Bush have happened in an educated country? The really stunning part of the Bush tragedy was how easy it was for a profoundly incompetent political group to convince >50% of Americans with the most simplistic and transparent of lies. You former dubyaphiles, it's not that you were fooled but the quality of what fooled you, how easily you were led, that should cause you serious internal need to reexamine your beliefs.

The fact that she was also a Mexicana in Washington County did not help her. The faces smile and exude tolerance but the undercurrent out here is as redneck as any cracker county in Georgia. And again, religions like Xanity, which must contain a large measure of hypocracy even to function at all, lead the way. Ask your local catlick friend how "those people" are taking over the church, using resources better left to good people...Even the highly censored word of Jesus that comes down to today as the N.T. shows a thought system completely unconnected to what purports as contemporary Xanity. This case stinks. Whether prosecutorial misconduct or political psychopathy or just the appalling simplicity of the current American brain, this poor woman has been horribly abused and to continue this abuse is to defecate on any real hope for our collective future. We will not deserve a future.

While I am loath to engage in a battle of wits with someone who is so obviously unarmed, your post was so obnoxious and hateful, you left me little choice.

First of all, it's 'hypocrisy', not 'hypocracy'. You really should learn to spell before claiming people who disagree with you are uneducated.

Second, if you think Christianity is a bad societal influence, do some time in a country devoid of it, like say maybe Iran or North Korea. (Also, if you really think your country is doomed, why don't you leave?)

Third, if President Bush 'lied' about WMDs in Iraq, then so did John Kerry, The Clintons, Nancy Pelosi, and virtually every other prominent Democrat leading up to the Iraq war. They all thought Hussein had them. Where's all your moral outrage about that?

Fourth, you're in no position to testify as to whether or not race played a role in this trial. Regardless of what you may believe, you can't read minds. Speaking as a Canadian, I believe Americans to be the most tolerant people around: certainly far more tolerant of Mexicans living in illegally their country than Mexicans are of Guatemalans or Hondurans living illegally in theirs. No nation in human history has successfully integrated as many different people as has the US.

First: 'hypocracy' sounds to me like a coinage, probably implying rule by Christo-fascists. Second: try doing time in This country. All those born-agains inside will make your life a pleasure, I'm sure.

Third: there is big difference between trusting what your President says and out-right lying. Fourth; The reason illegals are tolerated here is because they work cheaper than citizens. Perhaps we could pass a law that requires illegals to be paid more than citizens, with huge fines for anyone who breaks this law. BTW, China has over fifty ethnic minorities.

The American criminal justice system is a sham and this is proof.

Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty?"

Plus, for all of you who are oh so concerned with political correctness and gender equality, there is a reason the laws USED to be harder on men -- men are much more likely to be sexual abusers, spouse beaters, murders, and rapists! Go ahead try and prove me wrong! Just TRY. You just can't.

And I cannot BELIEVE that judicial resources and tax payer money are being used to make an example out of this poor girl. I am ashamed and disgusted by this.

These prosecutors are willing to ruin a poor girl's life in order to prove that "women can be abusers too" and make a name for themselves. Well, they sure have made a name for themselves but it certainly isn't a complimentary one.

But god forbid anyone worry about REAL crime when the state can make an example of a young woman and ruin the rest of her life.

I agree, this is a prosecutor that has nothing more important to do than go for the jugular of a young woman that simply cared and wanted to go the extra mile for this young man and his family. With all the severe child neglect and abuse that runs rampant in our society you have chosen to persecute this girl as if she were Mata Hari it really says alot about you as a person and I use the term loosely. I liken this to the Salem Witch Trials. One person told another and before you know it was common" fact" and they were burned at the stake still proclaiming their innocence.It is obvious we have not evolved much.

For all you Sheep that have jumped on the band wagon it could very easily be you that is accused of some ludicrous crime ,and if there are enough people to agree and testify ( usually you can find a few simpletons to help railroad some one) You could be in this very same spot, or your husband wife or child You need to remember pay backs are a bitch . Where is the mercy where is the justice for Veronica?She could have taken a plea bargain and rcvd probation but she believed in America and the law, innocent until PROVEN guilty and BEYOND a reasonable shadow of a doubt. Her bad. This has further reduced my faith in the American Justice system. If you have enough money you can get away with murder and just about anything else. If you don't and your idealistic enough to believe that only the guilty are pursued you have a rude awakening that will change your world for ever . Veronica can attest to this.

Repeat offenders have received less time than this girl may get. The accusers said even though there had been some altercations or whatever stupid thing it was , this had NO baring on their accusations. Give me a flipping break . They are obviously cruel and have no conscience . I think maybe they need to be investigated it sounds like grams and gramps are a little perverted. Maybe that is why it was so easy to fabricate this grand story that has been given way too much credence.

Keep the faith Veronica no matter what, God has your back and the people that have accused you and attempted to ruin you will not remain unscathed "Vengeance is mine" sayeth the Lord, Remain in Him and He will remain in You.

Ret your a dumbass

I think she should have gotten the death penalty. Someone should think of the children. This is just what the terrorist want! Please, someone think of the children!

You are a complete idiot!!! Come out from under your rock moron!

wow your a smart one the death penalty for barely touching witch didnt even happen come on i dont have to put you down you do a great job yourself. dont know why you wasted your time writing this, people should think before they react. oregon just needs to fix thier system stop taking peoples lives away from them.

And people wonder why our society is so messed up. When you take a simple thing like affection and create a panic. I know ,lets just go ahead and lock all 'at-risk' youth and 'troubled teens' in a jail somewhere. Not to mention anyone that wants to help them. After all, they MUST have some evil motivation for actually WANTING to be a supportive, nurturing presense to a child. That way there won't be a problem. Because, you are not going to accomplish squat without some connection to the kids in question. That is going to include some physical contact. Humans have to have this contact, or they become.....troubled teens! (Or politicians)

William

I feel that all this is unnecessary and it is not called for her to go through all of this.

6 years in PRISON because the back of some kids head touched her chest?

This only seems crazy until you understand that the System is designed to create alienation and disconnection from other people.

That way the next generation can be more fully manipulated by the State.

No jokes.

No smiles.

And above all,

No touching!

Get back to work #555-42-99945!

The lesson that this and other such laws across the country teach: Never even get near a minor. Don't touch, don't help, don't comfort, don't give them anything, don't call them on the phone, don't e-mail them, don't even look directly at them. Since many people can evidently "see" abusive behavior in just about anything, it is for your own good to abide by the general principle of these kinds of laws: DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH MINORS IF YOU ARE AN ADULT. PERIOD.

(If you are a parent of a minor, and you therefore anticipate the real possibility of any contact between you and the State-Protected Proto-Victim (aka: a child), then it would behoove you to retain the services of a good attorney.

I totally agree. Do not help children, don't touch them, don't assist them, don't befriend them. That's the message here. Stay away from children (i.e. anyone under 18 years of age), don't text them (which is their main mode of communication anymore), don't call them, just leave them to develop on their own without assistance or guidance. And to the "concerned citizens" who got the police involved - since when is it no longer appropriate or advisable to approach the woman herself and suggest that there has been some behavior that seems inappropriate to some. Did this happen? Was she given an opportunity to change her behavior toward the boy before being prosecuted to the fullest extent of th law?

Anyone considered the fact that his head may have touched her chest because she, being a decade older, is taller than him?

Dogs have anuses?

So is it anuses or anii?

Oh my God! Richard Meeker’s wife sentenced an innocent person to years in prison! Ah, those judges ...

Reading through this story: she would have been better off killing the fella rather then trying to help him out get his life on track. She would have been out by now..

What is the moral of the story here: don't help people in need because you might end up in jail? ok.. But if you know about it, do nothing and then the kid starts shooting 30 students in high school you all of a sudden are an accomplice and sent to jail..

I wonder how many sex offenders there are living in your neighborhood, you better watch out for your adolescent son's friends mom, she might smile at him and hand him a cookie..

After reading this story, my faith in citizens' ability to judge what is right is shattered. Veronica Rodriguez is a victim of people with too much time on their hands and very questionable motives. Washington County apparently has nothing better to do than create ridiculous sentences for ridiculous "crimes." In the case of these people, what is to be the law is better decided elsewhere.

This is total bull, and belittles victims who are pouring their souls into bringing true sexual offenders to justice. America is going to have adults so fearful of bonding with children that we will see crime sky rocket from the 18 and under sector. This is a disgrace, the system needs to get their head out of their a$$ and look at the long term damage these outrageous cases are causing.

Yeah, this entire case is a travesty of justice and smacks of racism. She gets more time than all of the criminals put together in allowing the murder and rape of Iraqis.

I'm not a fan of social workers (I think they largely ruin lives), but from a purely just standpoint, I do believe the punishment being administered to this woman is wrong. I would hesitate to simply throw blame around, however, as the blame belongs to none other than the people (shockingly, everyone here fits that category). If you really care about this incident, go do something about it. If not, your comments are worth little; opinions are meaningless without action.

So what!

This type of thing happens to men all the time, the laws concerning these types of offenses are so vague, that anyone can get caught up in them.

Maybe now that a woman has to suffer through this, the feminazis will stop trying to get so many insane sex laws pushed through, to catch all the evil men, since it can snare women too.

None of us know the whole story here. We'll NEVER get the whole story from the news media.

The media aren't there to tell us what actually happened -- not any more; they're there to spin a story that will engage their dupes' -- I mean, their "audience's" -- attention, their passion. You know, the things that sell eyeballs to advertizers. The more your blood boils at the story, the less likely you're being told the whole truth.

Outrageous Injustice Against Young Latina, with a side of Alleged Child Molestation: a sure circulation booster.

Is there anything readers can do to help keep Veronica Rodriguez out of prison?

A social worker showing affection for her charges is a beautiful thing (provided it doesn't hurt them in any way), and ignoring the specifics of a case to deliver a mandatory sentence based on what 2 people think they saw cannot be called justice.

This countries legal system sucks.

As her former boss in Spokane before she left to take this job in Portland I encouraged her and my staff to develop mentoring relationships with "at risk" youth. Every child needs a positive role models to help guide them through challenging times. While she was here she mentored boys, girls and she actually cared about them and thier future. She coached basketball teams, went to school functions, sporting events, helped them with homework and the kids really appreciated that and their behaviors improved. In the youth development field one of the most important thngs in a childs life is to have people that care about them. Someone needs to contact the Govenor and review this case and pardon her. Measure 11 should be for actual crimes and not something like this.

This reminds me of the other travesty of justice meted out to that Korean dude for stealing panties. Big flippin deal. When I was growing up, that was considered a rite of passage and today he's considered a sex pervert. Are we living in Victorian England?

I've got to say you've got some really sick people up there in Washington State. Every single person involved with charging and finding guilty this girl ought to be run out of town on a rail, including the bozo legislator who sponsored this offensive legislation (why do people vote into office people like this, and once they are there and really show their stripes, why do they keep them?). Anybody up there in the cold rainy north ever hear of AFFECTION? It's only perverted people who view tender touching as sexual; what they see as a slut, I see as a caring, mothering type. Breasts, after all, have a PRIMARY function and being an instrument of sexual pleasure is secondary. Next the people of Washington will be imprisoning mothers for breast-feeding. Had any school shooters up there, lately? So long as you imprison the tender caretakers and let the blue noses continue to run free, you'll be having your share of teen violence, believe me, and it will be exactly what you deserve, it's what you VOTED for.

it happened in washington county in oregon not washington state

She should be ashamed to show her face in public.

This should have never gone to court.

I'll think twice about ever helping out a troubled child again.(what a shame)

How do her accusers sleep at night?

Hats off to our Supreme Court of Injustice.

So sorry Veronica.

The finger wagging old biddies who are

always looking for something "dirty" in

other people's behavior are just miserable, hideous, unattractive, misshapen ogres who couldn't get a horny dog to hump their leg even if they rubbed themselves with a dead fish that had been laying out in the hot sun for a month.

It just goes to show how lost america has become (as far as the rest of the world is concerded anyway).

What is the charge, apparently his head touched her breast... big deal, which 13 year old male wouldn't like that... i was doing more at that age than that, not because I was forced but because I wanted to. I think a lot of people seriously need to get their head out of their a**. I wonder how many politicains, high payed executive, judges etc etc ever did anything with a girl at that age. I'm sure quite a lot did, now they turned out alright didnt they, they arent rapist are they.... on that same note i wonder how many of them got spanked when they where in trouble... yet they didnt turn out to be violent criminals either.

Point you have over anylised everything and taken things to such extremes and now believe your won shite.... step back for a minute and take a look at yourselves, maybe then you will see how the rest of the world see's you....

Ret- Whoever you are. Have your read the FBI Crime statistic Report for 2007. Actually violent crime is slowly increasing. You loose all creditibility when you make random statements that hold no factual basis.

Of course crime went down the year following Measure 11. It is simple math. If you have a city with 1000 people, and you take 400 of them and put them in prison, crime will go down. Regardless, if those 400 people were truly violent offenders. Get it?