Are the charges excessive? Yeah, I think they are. There’s no sexual intent here. His penis wasn’t even fully exposed. It was a dumb stupid prank by an immature 18 year old.
Why destroy this kid’s entire future over this? Teens do dumb stuff. Making mistakes is part of maturing and becoming a responsible adult.
He should face consequences. Make him pay restitution to republish the yearbooks. Community service and a years parole. Six months of picking up roadside trash and cleaning up city parks would make him think twice before pulling another prank.
Thankfully the felony charge is being dropped by Maricopa county. But the city prosecutor can still proceed with the 69 misdemeanor charges. Which would still be pretty devastating to his future.
I think about the dumb crap teens did when I was in high school. I did a few dumb things that I regret now. I’m glad there was some common sense in applying our laws back then.
You think not wanted some teenage wanker’s dick in a yearbook is “prudish” and puritanical? THAT’s sad.
It’s more likely the prosecutor being a tab overzealous. 69 (heh heh) counts! Why not be realistic - one for everyone who saw the yearbook, or read the program. Maybe they can give the guy a 1000 year sentence if they make it consecutive! That’ll show those punk kids!
I think some punishment is warranted, though. More than a wrist slap.
I keep seeing this “prudish, puritanical” complaint on this board about society, and I keep wondering where it’s coming from, and I wonder if the people making the complaint have bothered to actually notice what’s going on around them.
A society that was actually prudish or puritanical would have its women dressing something like this.
A society that thinks that a person somehow needs to be 60-80% naked in order to exercise is not a “prudish, puritanical” society.
A society that thinks it’s ok to be 90% naked in public in order to swim is not a “prudish, puritanical” society.
A society where very large parts of the population are ok with showing simulations of sex in popular entertainment is not a “prudish, puritanical” society.
Perhaps for quite awhile. I found the Arizona statute. 13-1402. Indecent exposure
It’s not clear if the fine is in addition to jail or replaces a jail sentence. Either way, 69 possible charges of this statute is pretty punitive for a teen prank.
Somewhat on the excessive side. I would feel better if the idiots on the committee or whatever who approved and used the picture were getting a slap of some kind as well; that’s the part that amazes me – that it got published.
He’s not a kid. He’s an adult who exposed himself in public, and not in an innocent way like in a shower or a nude beach. He exposed himself to a lot of public in a sexually explicit way. This is not a prank.
If he wasn’t a kid, he’d be able to legally order a beer. But he can’t, so he is. Can’t have it both ways.
It wasn’t sexual. It was just stupid.
And it was a prank. A stupid one, but a prank.
The way all this played out is the consequence of years of the travesty of “zero tolerance” , which, being the refuge of the intellectually lazy and a complete abdication of moral responsibility, is making our schools a dangerous place to be a kid.
That many copies? :eek: Geez we only had 350 students in my graduating class. I don’t recall if they offered yearbooks to the juniors and sophomores or not. But that would still be less than a 1000 copies.
I doubt many will turn in their yearbook. I’ve read that this photo wasn’t very large in the yearbook. Not particularly noticeable unless you look for the penis. A where’s Waldo hunt. Most students will probably get a good laugh about it at their 20 year reunions. But right now it’s not a laughing matter.
I wonder if the student had been 17 instead of 18, would they have thrown child porn charges at the photographer, school staff, printer, and everyone who bought a copy?
Most students will probably get a good laugh about it at their 20 year reunions. But right now it’s not a laughing matter.