Military works to prevent sex with minors

[unhappycamper]

Source: Stars and Stripes

Military works to prevent sex with minors
By Natasha Lee, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, July 25, 2008

The court-martial of Airman 1st Class Nathaniel N.F. DaSilva sheds light on the challenges military officials face in preventing improper interaction between young servicemembers and the teenagers that live close by.

Officials say the transition from teenager to adult can be difficult for some servicemembers to handle — especially when they are just out of high school.

Before deliberation Wednesday, DaSilva’s attorney, Capt. Maxwell Smart, asked the jury to consider that DaSilva was only a few years older than the victims.

~snip~

Under the UCMJ, the legal age of consent is 16. Anyone younger cannot legally agree to have sex, so such conduct is a crime even if there is no force, Lt. Cmdr. James Mills, the military justice department head at Yokosuka Naval Base’s Region Legal Service Office, told Stripes in March.



Read more: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56338

[nerddem]

1. his attorney was maxwell smart?

"Before deliberation Wednesday, DaSilva’s attorney, Capt. Maxwell Smart, asked the jury to consider that DaSilva was only a few years older than the victims. - He paused, then added, "And... loving it."

i wonder if they used the cone of silence in preparation?

[The Croquist]

2. Makes sense to me

The article didn't say how old either were but we know she was no more then 15. He belongs in jail.

[harmonicon]

3. I don't know if jail is the answer, but it sounds like a crime to me

Jesus, even when I was 18 or 19, I sure as hell knew to stay away from any 14 or 15 year old. I don't see how putting this guy in jail would help things, but it doesn't sound right either.

[The Croquist]

9. Maybe it would make his barracks mates think twice

There are more 15 year old girls out there.

[mitchum]

5. BWAHAHAHA

nicely done

[Doctor_J]

6. When notified that the girl was 15 yrs & 10 mos old, Smart replied

"missed it by that much".

[Jimbo S]

10. She missed being legal age by "this much".

[Coventina]

4. I have mixed feelings about this

I don't think teenagers should have sex at all (in most cases).

But I remember in high school, even freshman girls thought military guys were quite a catch. Of course, this was in peacetime and around "Officer and a Gentleman". That "Love'll Lift Us Up Where We Belong" song was played at every dance. It was quite the romantic fantasy, let me tell you. Even ROTC guys got a lot of action around that time.

I kind of hate to see anyone's life being ruined over a consensual relationship.

But then, I'm a bleedin' heart liberal...

On edit: having said all that, if the military wants to make rules forbidding such behavior, I'm not opposed to it. If the guy is aware of the rules, and chooses to break them, I guess he needs to do the time.

[izquierdista]

8. That's because you have been brainwashed

Teenagers have sex because that is what they are biologically programmed to do. Once puberty kicks in, sex becomes the most important thing on a teen's mind and they follow their biological programming.

Now modern society, that is the construct that is trying to deny what millions of years of evolution have programmed in. Across the political spectrum there is agreement that teenagers should not have sex at all. On the right, they seek to ignore it and hope it won't happen; ignorance is bliss. On the left, they offer more clinical information, but they still don't get it -- teens are programmed to have sex and written information just doesn't satisfy.

When someone like Dr. Jocelyn Elders comes along and starts to have a frank discussion, the public puts their hands over their ears and yells "LA-LA-LA-LA" all in unison. In addition to receiving information, young teens need frank discussions of what is an acceptable outlet. Children need to have sexual experiences, not just have some book learning and be told "OK, you're old enough" on their 18th birthday. By not having a socially acceptable sequence of sexual outlets for young people under 18, American society does them a great disservice and lays the foundation for sexual dysfunctions later in life.

[girl gone mad]

11. The teenagers aren't on trial here.

The adult is. An adult has the mental capacity to know right from wrong and a responsibility not to take advantage of naive, drunk children.

[Coventina]

13. *sigh*

Apparently you didn't understand from my post that my point was that the high school girls I went to school with were anxious to have relationships with these guys. I don't need to be told that teenagers are biologically programmed to have sex. I remember, I was one once.

That still doesn't mean that it's the smart thing to do and it also doesn't mean that just because they are physically ready that they are emotionally ready.

Learning to balance your physical needs against your long-term goals is an important part of growing up. I think there is a middle ground between "purity balls" and fulfilling a biological drive just because it's there.

[Xithras]

7. Since it wasn't here. He was 21 and it was with TWO 14 year old girls.

I'd have no problem if this were an 18 year old guy having a relationship with a 16 year old girl (that's what R&J laws are for), and I might even be willing to look the other way at 18 and 15 if they were both close to the line (he just turned, and she's about to), but 21 and 14?!? 8th graders? After plying them with alcohol? At the SAME FREAKING TIME?

This guy deserves every minute of his incarceration.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56339

[Coventina]

12. Yikes!

Yeah, that guy needs jail time for sure.

[Jack_DeLeon]

15. I concur.

[Jack_DeLeon]

14. If its consensual I think 15+ is okay for age of consent

Some Mexican and Mexican-American girls have quinceaneras when they turn 15, its supposed to represent when the girl becomes a woman and available for marriage and whatnot.

White girls have their own version called a sweet sixteen.