Boy Meets Girl, Boy Dates Girl, Boy Posts Nude Picture to MySpace, Boy Goes to Jail 9/4/2007 - 12,803 views, 7 Comments
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Anthony Rich of Bradenton, Florida was himself no older than 17 when he met and dated his then girlfriend, who was 15. With only a two year difference, and with both teens being under 18, you might think that there was no problem. In fact, given those facts, you might think that that there was no problem - at least legally - with her allowing him to take nude pictures of her. And depending on the age of consent in the state in which they lived, you might be right. But then they broke up - and Anthony Rich - at age 17 - posted one of those pictures - a nude picture - of his 15 year old ex-girlfriend to her MySpace page. And now, two years later (and thus over the age of 18), Anthony Rich is facing 30 days in jail for child abuse and attempted child abuse - even though he was himself legally but a child when he posted the picture (for which, don’t forget, his then-girlfriend had willingly posed). So, the question here is, what exactly was Anthony Rich’s real crime? Did it warrant jail time? Did it warrant child abuse charges? According to news accounts, Rich pleaded ‘no contest’ to the child abuse and attempted child abuse charges in order to avoid having to defend against ’sex crime’ charges which, if he had been found guilty, would have marked him as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Would this outcome have been the same if Rich, rather than posting to MySpace, which as been under a lot of scrutiny lately as a place where innocent young girls are taken advantage of, had posted the picture on another website? Remember, it was posted to her page, so she had the full ability to remove it. Now let us hasten to add that we do not condone what Rich did. We’re just not sure that he should do jail time - for child abuse - over what essentially was a teen love angst spat, when he was under 18 himself at the time of the crime - or, indeed whether a genuine crime had been committed at all. But what we really want to know is when her family is going to sue MySpace. After all, suing MySpace for transgressions against or even by (it really doesn’t seem to matter which) your daughter is the new all American pasttime.
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» Federal Court Exonerates MySpace in Pete Solis Underaged Girl Case
» 14 Year Old Girl and Mom Sue MySpace for $30million for Date Gone Wrong
» MySpace Sued by Four Families for Failing to Protect Their Children from Predators
For additional similar stories check out our archives on Internet Law, MySpace, Over 18
What if he’d posted it to a site for pedophiliacs who love underage girls?
She was 15. If I’m not mistaken, he could have been charged with the production and distribution of child pornography.
And when it comes to your contention that his being under 18 somehow mitigates this… Since when is 17 too young to know right from wrong. We’re living in a society where teenagers are increasingly being tried as adults because they’re increasingly committing adult crimes.
And your contention that “she had the full ability to remove it”. Sure, but what if someone had the ability to copy it and redistribute it before she could exercise that ability? What if that someone then posted it to a kiddie porn site?
Once he published that photo, this boy set in motion a variety of possible consequences that could have messed up this girl’s life for a long, long time.
So, I ask you to reconsider if a potential 30 day sentence is too harsh for a callous and potentially heinous act committed by someone only a few months from legal adulthood?
Comment by Greg Bulmash — 9/4/2007 @ 7:54 am
Well, to correct this.. let me tell you the boy was in fact 19 when it happened if you had any brain or credibility. Did you ever think that.. HELLO it was on a friday night with drunken rampage.. no one was on myspace except the freaks. And they were the ones that saw the picture.. no one had access to it.. and did you notice that he made 600 flyers and passed them out to a local party of everyone in the high school. Note:he had already graduated and she hadnt. Thank you and learn your shit
Comment by rose dawiptakator — 10/2/2007 @ 7:27 pm
rose
It looks like you need to learn your own “stuff”. He was 17 when he did what he was charged with.
I’m sure you can find this in any number of places but the particular quote above is at The Bradenton Herald online
Comment by dj — 10/6/2007 @ 11:55 am
However, I agree he was very close to adulthood. Depending on the area that decision could go either way.
As I understand it, it’s not the taking of the photo that was illegal. Or rather, shouldn’t have been. Nude is not necessarily pornographic. It appears that what was illegal was posting/publishing a photo of a minor without getting a consent signed. (and anyone under 18 the waiver needs to be signed by a legal custodian, her parent).
Comment by dj — 10/6/2007 @ 12:02 pm
send Me Sex
Comment by Rakshi — 1/19/2008 @ 5:20 am
selut
Comment by BACHA_25 — 3/4/2008 @ 12:45 am
i always take pictures of the girls i have sex with, how i suppose 2 no how old they r, das rong if i gota get busted 4 what they do
Comment by Mike Paahana — 6/9/2008 @ 7:24 pm