Conviction and Sentencing of Letourneau--was it just?

[Pure]

In light of all the facts known, and that she's marrying the guy, was her conviction for child rape in absence of 'victim's' complaint, and 7 year prison-term for 'raping' the lad (and not leaving off), just?


Mary Kay Letourneau Weds Former Student
By MELANTHIA MITCHELL, AP ONLINE

SEATTLE (AP) - Mary Kay Letourneau, whose notorious seduction of 12-year-old boy led to more than seven years in prison, has married the former student she was convicted of raping.





Mary Kay Letourneau and Villi Fualaau posing April 9, 2005, in their home in Seattle. (AP)

Letourneau, 43, and Vili Fualaau, 22, exchanged vows they had written themselves during a tightly guarded ceremony Friday night, said Janet Annino, co-executive producer of the TV show ``Entertainment Tonight.''

The couple have been in the spotlight since Letourneau was imprisoned in 1997. But when she was released last August, the couple - who have two daughters together - reunited.

The ceremony was at the Columbia Winery in Woodinville, about 20 miles northeast of Seattle, Annino said.

``Mary Kay was whisked out of the hotel to this venue under intense security,'' she said. ``She arrived here with a sheet over her head. She had to lie down in the car coming in to avoid the paparazzi.''

Letourneau and Fualaau gave a series of interviews to ``Entertainment Tonight'' and its sister TV show, ``The Insider,'' which had exclusive rights to the nuptials. Show officials said they did not pay for the wedding.

Letourneau's teenage daughter, Mary Claire, from her earlier marriage, was maid of honor. The couple's two daughters, Audrey, 8, and Alexis Georgia, 7, were flower girls.

The couple first met when Fualaau was in the second grade. Their relationship became sexual when he was 12 and she was a 34-year-old married mother of four, a teacher at a suburban elementary school.

Letourneau was pregnant with Fualaau's first child when she was arrested in 1997. She pleaded guilty to second-degree child rape and was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison, with all but six months suspended.

Within weeks of her release, she was caught having sex with Fualaau in her car and ordered to serve the remainder of her sentence. She gave birth to the couple's second daughter while serving time.

 

[cloudy]

I think so, yeah. After all, what would our reaction have been if the situation had been reversed, and it had been a 34-year-old male teacher with a 12-year-old girl?

A 12-year-old is a 12-year-old. End of story.

 

[AppleBiter]

I think so, yeah. After all, what would our reaction have been if the situation had been reversed, and it had been a 34-year-old male teacher with a 12-year-old girl?

A 12-year-old is a 12-year-old. End of story.

Yeah, I agree.

 

[minsue]

Yup .

 

[ElizabethWest]

Ditto.

 

[impressive]

And yet now -- now that he's an adult -- I can't help but cheer for them to be happy together.

 

[Pure]

ftsoa, since the 'suppose it was a girl' line is so common, will someone say why they assume the same ill effects of a 'rape' (seemingly consensual seduction) on a boy as on a girl?

 

[cloudy]

ftsoa, since the 'suppose it was a girl' line is so common, will someone say why they assume the same ill effects of a 'rape' (seemingly consensual seduction) on a boy as on a girl?

I'm not assuming anything like that. I'm considering it's effects on a child.

 

[Pure]

and you can specify these effects on a 'child' without reference to his/her sex?

IS your argument dependent on *effects*?

if, somehow the 'victim' was assessed to have NO ill effects, would you still support the sentence? (there are times when that seems fair, for instance if a baby is kidnapped for a day (cared for and coddled), then found; there are perhaps NO ill effects [on it], but the act must be punished for deterrence.)

for the record, i'd say the *original* 6 mo. sentence was about right, and should have been augmented a bit for the continuance (say, an extra 4 mos). why should the increase be small--because i'm assuming she was no longer his teacher upon being released [if i'm wrong, that's different].

 

[cloudy]

and you can specify these effects on a 'child' without reference to his/her sex?

If I wanted to do more thinking about this than I'm willing to do today, I'm sure I could.

IS your argument dependent on *effects*?

There's sure to be some sort of adverse effect of inappropriate behavior at the age of 12. In other cultures, maybe not, but in ours, yes.

if, somehow the 'victim' was assessed to have NO ill effects, would you still support the sentence? (there are times when that seems fair, for instance if a baby is kidnapped for a day (cared for and coddled), then found; there are perhaps NO ill effects [on it], but the act must be punished for deterrence.)

Yes, I would. I can't see condoning the perpetrator's actions (whether they be male or female), regardless of the effects on the victim....and at the age of 12, whether they consented or not, they are a victim of adult manipulation, at the very least.

 

[cinnamonstick]

I work with sex offended many of whom were assualted at about the age he was. And some of them point to their own assualt as a reason they committed crimes. Is it a lame excuse yes, but possible reason none the less. Is everyone affected the same way? Of course not, but a 12 can't consent to sex with a 34 year old. If it was someone similair in age that is another story.

 

[Pure]

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