WEB SITE TARGETS STATUTORY RAPISTS (Consensual Sex Fuels Rise in Teen Births, Say Calif. Officials)

WEB SITE TARGETS STATUTORY RAPISTS (Consensual Sex Fuels Rise in Teen Birth, Say Calif. Officials)

Associated Press

7/18/00

Claudia Swing has helped create what is believed to be the first Web site in the nation to name those wanted on felony charges of statutory rape.  She hopes the Internet can help her put more statutory rapists behind bars.  These are the worst of the worst, multiple offenders with multiple victims, said Swing, an investigator for the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.  She is one of four investigators who handle statutory rape cases.  These aren't high school kids.  These are adults having sex with minors.  State law forbids anyone three years older than a minor to have consensual sexual relations.  The minimum age to get married is 18, although younger people can marry with parental approval.  Statutory rape has been construed as an acceptable event, said Pola Snell, another investigator.  People need to know it's a crime, and they will be punished if they have sex with a minor.

(San Bernardino, California)