CALIFORNIA
KPCC
by Paul Glickman November 26 2014
KPCC’s report earlier this month on the LAUSD’s argument in a civil lawsuit that a 14-year-old can consent to sex with her 28-year-old teacher has prompted three state lawmakers to introduce bills designed to make sure that can’t happen again.
The girl’s family had sued the L.A. Unified School District, seeking financial compensation for the district’s handling of the situation. LAUSD’s defense rested in part on its assertion that the girl bore some responsibility for the sexual relationship.
The age of consent is strictly set at 18 in criminal cases, but L.A. Unified’s lawyer in the lawsuit pointed to state appellate rulings that he said permitted him to argue in a civil case that a minor can consent to sex with an adult.
“It is stunning that a 14-year-old girl would be considered responsible for the predatory behavior of a pedophile,” said State Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose), who planned to introduce her measure on Monday. “This bill makes it absolutely clear that a child does not share the blame for predatory behavior. This blame the victim attitude in sexual assaults must stop.”
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