Teenager’s Jailing Brings a Call to Fix Sex Offender Registries

Generally, I use caution about judging these situations as "innocent misunderstandings". Adults need to understand the dangers of quick sex hook ups via apps and social media, and underage girls and boys need protection from predators. If we let everyone slide with "she said she was 17" (or whatever the age of consent is in the area) we would have a rash of predators claiming ignorance. I am fine with expecting the adult to have a "due diligence" responsibility when it comes to finding out whether their potential sex partner is of consenting age. (The article indicates that is how the law currently works in this man's state. I think it should be that way in all states, if it isn't already)

I realize some situations are more innocent than others. If this 19 year old man really had no idea the girl was younger than what she told him (she was actually 14). His punishment, IMO, should be fairly light such as 2 years probation and a small fine or a day of community service.

I want the sex offender registry reserved for hard sex criminals who are likely to re-offend.

Children lie all the time - it is not a crime, and while it is concerning, it does not belong in the court system. Many adult men will have sex with a 14 year girl old if they are unlikely to face punishment or if they can manufacture proof that she lied about her age, even when they know or suspect she is lying. And if 14 year old girls are just looking for sex, they don't have to lie about their age to get sex, they usually just announce that they want sex and any nearby boy will come running. I think it is more probable that she lied because she liked the attention and wanted to keep him interested in her (people lie on the internet all the time).

Hopefully the girl will be punished for lying, and everything related to it, but that's a matter between her and her parents, not the courts. The parents called police as soon as they arrived home and noticed their 14 year old was missing - this is an indication of strict parenting.

I would be pissed if while I was gone, an adult stranger came to my house and removed my 14 year old child for adult activities such as sex, smoking, drugs or even dangerous work such as operating machinery. I would not care if my child consented or if they thought my child was older. The responsibility is on the adults - as it should be.

We have these expectations already with cigarettes, booze, employment, driving, doing certain jobs which involve risk of bodily harm, entering contract agreements, etc. The responsibility is on the adults, the employer or the establishment selling the cigarettes or booze to get proof of age - not just take people's word. The employers and establishment can even get fined/shutdown if they accept too many fake ID's

If there is no expectation of due diligence about age, anyone could take advantage of children in many ways, not just sexually. And predators are known to pre-manufacture defense evidence in case they get caught. While I fully agree the judge in this case has gone too far, and I am critical of the sex registry, I do think the 19 year old man needs some punishment or monitoring for his poor judgment. I also think there is a chance, although not enough evidence to prove, that he may be a predator. He is good looking, athletic, and in college studying computer science. He is no dumbie and I am sure there are women his age at his college willing to have casual hook ups. Instead, he made a long distance drive across state lines to meet the 14 year old when her parents were not at home and had sex in a public playground. The article indicated he used dating apps frequently to hook up.

IMO, we have child sex laws for a reason, we need to punish offenders. At the very least this guy is gullible and needs to learn from his mistake so that he doesn't keep h-ving sex with children. At worst, he is a predator, preying on gullible underage girls, waiting for their parents to leave them alone for a few hours. That's why I think a fine and a 2 year probation with his record being expunged after 2 years would be sufficient punishment....and the girl should be dealt with by her parents.

If you really want to help this guy.....

And I think the MRA should. I would write the Senator who said in the article that the guy could look for jobs that don't involve computers such as welding and trucking. This senator is out of touch with today's reality. Most every job requires access to a computer and in the internet to get hired. It is Senator Rick Jones of Michigan. I will look for his contact info and post.

PS- like I indicated in my previous comments, I do think the guy was at least guilty of negligent behavior, but I dont think he deserves to have his life ruined. I think he has been punished enough.

Contact info:

SenRJones@senate.michigan.gov

Please let Senator Jones know that sentencing Zachary Anderson to 5 years with out computer or internet makes him virtually un-hirable, and anything else you may want to add.

note: Sen Jones helped form the sex offender registry so I doubt he will be receptive to critisism.

Should we contact all Michigan Senators and the judge? I might edit to add contact info.

There seems to be some discrepancy about how and when she lied about her age. In the OP article, from New York Times, it says:

"The girl, who by her own account told Mr. Anderson that she was 17 - a year over the age of consent in Michigan - was actually 14"

Yet in another article about this case published in "The Boston News Time" it says:

"The girl lied about her age to use the app, pretending she was 17 when she was really 14 years old"

and

"according to court papers.....he says he believed the girl was 17, like she advertised on the site, and never questioned her about her age in person"

Note: The girl was using the site "hot or not" which has a rule about age. Users must be at least 17 years old.

PS- the link to my source cant be posted because it has the word "h-ving" in the title.