Senator Changed Child Rape Law After Relative Accused of Sex With Minor
Just today, we sent out our Weekly Update talking about how sex offense laws aren’t applied the same across the board. How people with money, power, or political connections tend to have a very different experience than the average person. And right on cue, this story out of Utah hits the headlines.
According to a recent Newsweek article, Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams was involved in quietly pushing a change to state law – at the same time his 18-year-old relative was being charged for having sex with a 13-year-old. Thanks to that change, the teen avoided the harsh penalties and lifelong consequences that most others in that situation would have faced—like prison time or having to register as a sex offender.
Now, to be clear: we’re not here to tear down the well-connected. If someone can catch a break and avoid a life-destroying punishment, we’re all for second chances. The problem is, most people don’t get that chance. When stories like this make the news, the public gets the wrong idea and thinks, “Wow, the system goes easy on sex offenders.” And that leads to calls for even tougher laws. But the reality is, most people get the book thrown at them. Especially if they’re poor, marginalized, or have no political pull.
That’s why we talk about these stories—not to hate on those who get a fair shot, but to show how unfair the system really is for everyone else. Justice should be based on facts, not on who you know. And until that happens, we’ll keep speaking up.
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This makes more sense than a blanket category for all.
While in Florida I sought out legal counsel on whether I need to register. The answer was surprisingly “NO”, but to be sure I got a second opinion. Having said that, I decided to approach the dilemma of Florida’s harsh laws as a chaplain and community activist. Justice MUST be tempered with Grace to be Justice, otherwise it is revenge and such is NOT our place against another. Revenge is the opposite of Justice. While at the capital as a chaplain I made some head-way. Getting clergy involved and on-board with the position of Grace (ie. Matthew 25:40) we might make head-way to getting a tiered registry in Florida.
What I’m seeing is that it’ll take a legislator’s friend or family member to get caught up in this web to get them to make more sensible sex crime laws. But it’ll also take another generation or two before there are enough registrants-to-be with friends in high places for that to begin.
But don’t grudge the accused or the legislator in this case – they get plenty of that everywhere else. It’s hard enough to get lawmakers to act sensibly in this particular arena. Getting grilled by even the registrant community only makes it worse. And honestly, what difference does it make if the only reason he only pushed sensibility to benefit a family member? It needs to be done, regardless.
Hate all you want if he tries to repeal the new law next year or campaign season. But for now, just be glad for the modicum of sensibility, regardless of how or why it came about.
@Dustin
It makes A LOT of difference if the only reason he pushed the law was to beneift a family member!!
There are NOT very many instances of where family members in high places are caught, and oftentimes they are swept under the rug, so advocacy from the upper eschelon for new, reasonable, and fair laws is scant at best.
If they only way that change comes is through instances like this then we are going to have to wait and endure these senseless, punitive laws a long, long time!!
Regardless of who you are related to, ALL of us are human and no one is better than anyone else!!
We ALL put our pants on the same way–one leg at a time!!
And don’t for Diddy, who masterminded getting out of the most heinous crimes even having guns with removed identifications in his home. Hmmmmmmmm
If the registry is fair and not punitive. Then racisim IMO dosent exist. They can’t both be true at the same time.. Although they are not really connected. Both statements that the registry is NOT punative and racism is not real are both lies. Also the government will never allow for a civil war in the country. That would disrupt there cash cow economy and impede there ability to hold power. Never gonna happen. They will do what this law makers did. Makes laws to force there will on the people.
Land of the free is a long gone illusion.
The past 2 weeks there have been 12 other people, some LEO’s, some pastors, some school coaches and other people in authority of kids and they all had some type of sexual encounter…
parents must teach their kids that there is ZERO TOlerance of these behaviors ….get out and run like hell and scream!
Google it