–How has the mayor of Baltimore being earning the title of “public servant”? (Via a Popehat tweet.)
–Does having AIDS and merely sitting in a car with a 16-year old boy, without more, constitute either “reckless endangerment” or “endangering the welfare of a child”?
Would your answer change if the PWA also happened to be a convicted child molester — and if so, why? (Via Sex Crimes Blawg.)
–Which nation’s government is preparing to celebrate “Serf Liberation Day“?
–How much money do Americans spend preparing their income tax returns each year?
–A Special Meta-Question: Can you answer a question without knowing the question? (I could, with relative ease.)
2 responses so far ↓
Link Jeffrey Deutsch // Jan 13, 2009 at 11:19 am
Hello Kip,
Wrt Mr. Musmacker, as you know he's specifically being accused of a criminal sexual act. As I'm sure you also know, the media doesn't broadcast any and all details of a crime, let alone a sexual crime against a minor. So how do you know there is "without more" than just sitting in the car with the boy?
Also, how do you know that Mr. Musmacker wasn't specifically prohibited from being alone with a minor? As far as I know, a large majority of child molestors are under exactly that prohibition. And one could rationally assume that if someone is going to violate such a prohibition and take all the associated risks, he may as well have sex with the boy.
If the prosecution fails to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any sex (or any attempt at sex) occurred or that he violated a prohibition, then by all means acquit him. If Mr. Musmacker was on parole or similar restrictions and they fail to prove by a preponderance of the evidence (the usual standard of evidence for revoking parole or probation) that he committed any of the offenses, including violating restrictions, then he should continue to walk free.
Do you, Kip, happen to know anything about this case that isn't in that article?
Cheers,
Jeff Deutsch
Link Mahndisa // Jan 13, 2009 at 6:36 pm
01 13 09
Kip:
The Europe has no free speech articles haven't been up lately so I figured I'd let you know about the case of a couple who were denied adoption because the father was obese. Crazy!