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Thursday, September 3, 2015

Let's Jail Minors for Being Infatuated With One Another. After All, They're A More Serious Threat To Society Than Child Rapists.

Let's Jail Minors for Being Infatuated With One Another. After All, They're A More Serious Threat To Society Than Child Rapists.


by Russell Brooks
Cormega CopeningCormega CopeningThis has got to be the dumbest waste of police resources I've read about in a long time.

Cormega Copening—a 17-year-old—and his 16-year-old girlfriend, Brianna Benson, were charged last February as sexual exploiters. This was after investigators discovered that they were mutually swapping nude pictures of themselves. It was reported that Benson reached a plea deal with the District Attorney's office that will allow her to do a year of probation.  During that time she won't be able to use to her cell phone and will have to do community service. Furthermore, she won't need to register as a sex offender (http://myinforms.com/en-us/a/16047300-pitts-the-law-shouldnt-go-after-kids-for-sexting/). However, Copening—who's a quarterback for the Jack Britt High School Buccaneers—may face up to ten years in jail and be forced to register as a lifetime sex offender if convicted (http://abc11.com/news/high-school-quarterback-facing-sexting-charge/964620/). Despite the fact that there wasn't any evidence to demonstrate that Copening is a threat to the public, the authorities are convinced that Copening needs to be put away.

Even though two minors sexting will concern parents, it's hardly something that should merit such a harsh punishment—especially if one considers that the law views Copening as being too young to have a nude picture of himself on his own phone, yet old enough to be punished as an adult for it. What's even more horrifying is that if convicted, he will miss his high school graduation, his prom, an opportunity to go to university (potentially on a football scholarship), and land himself a good job that would allow him to raise and support a good family—maybe even with his current girlfriend. In short, the authorities are prepared to destroy this boy's life even before he becomes a man. Then again, they must believe that it's worth the time and effort to do so because two minors who were mutually sexting harms everyone—therefore Mr Copening needs to be put away.

Thomas BodenThomas BodenIt's baffling that the Cumberland County Sherriff's Office will devote their resources to enforce such a frivolous act when there are clearly more serious offenders who are more deserving of a jail sentence. This is important to mention, considering that earlier this week in San Angelo, Texas, some creep named Thomas Boden was able to avoid a jail sentence and was not required to register as a sex offender. This was after there was evidence that demonstrated that he had sexually assaulted a 2-year old girl (https://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/texas-man-walks-free-after-alleged-rape-leaves-2-year-old-girl-in-pool-of-blood/). Then again, the authorities must be convinced that Boden wasn't a danger to society, so he did not need to be put away.

If one must question if these laws were made to protect the public, then one must definitely ask whom they were really meant to protect.