40-year-old coach marries 16-year-old student

And one week later: Found.

You really think the two of them could just drop off the map at the drop of a hat? And when they're found, he's now up for kidnap and sexual assault (admittedly guessing).

 

Wouldn't you just be able to call the police and report a kidnapping? Then you would have a suspect. The girl is a minor and thus can't consent to being kidnapped.

I guess I'm just confused about why the police couldn't do anything about a 40-year-old going after a 16-year-old.

 

If the age of consent is 16, they can't.

 

In North Carolina, I'm guessing the age of consent is 16. Because the girl is not yet an adult, she needed the parents to sign away the marriage rights, but she still could consent to nailing him left and right.

 

Yes, but what is the statute of limitations on statutory rape? If the girl was 15 the first time, they could press charges a year later.

Also, 16 may be the age of consent for sex, but not for kidnapping. She's still a minor and thus under her parents' care.

 

How can they prove there was sex involved? "Oh, I waited until she was 16 until we made sweet, passionate love." No way to prove otherwise.

But if she runs away, how is it kidnapping?

 

I suppose.

So instead of a girl angry that she isn't allowed to marry . . .

. . . you have a girl angry that she isn't allowed to marry and really really really pissed off that her parents are going to prosecute her fiance for kidnapping.

Good luck trying to repair that relationship.

 

Eating disorders are mental illnesses, so it's in the ballpark.

Point is, she doesn't need to wed this creep to one day deal with the full repercussions of her decision. Her "dating" this guy for another two years might do it. It might not. But that's how I would probably go about it, aside from getting depressed myself over it.

 

By letting her date the dude, the parents are subtly condoning it.

By telling her, "Here, go get married," they are squarely putting the onus on HER to take HER responsibility. Good for them.

 

This is all purely conjecture. I'm not a parent and I'm not sure what I would do in this position. I would assume that the relationship could be healed through years of therapy.

But I am still baffled about this. Yes, let's say the age of consent is 16. Why is it that Dateline can get all of these predators arrested without having sex yet the cops can't go after this guy for his behavior the year before?

 

Bullshit. By signing the consent form, they admitting the relationship is legitimate. THAT is condoning it. I swear, some people will bend reality in any way imaginable to make an argument.

 

Using that technique, if the daughter had a meth habit, would the parents be wise to wait until the daughter comes to the realization that she needs rehab as opposed to telling her what to do? Because if they put her in rehab or got her help when she pulls an Amy Winehouse, that would risk the daughter alienating the family, threatening suicide ... you know, some of the things we've talked about in this thread as the reason to sign the consent for marriage.