Teenager charged with desecrating statute.NSFW link
On a more serious note… really, they still have laws like that? What qualifies as a “venerated object”?
Heh-heh, **Bricker **made a funny.
Heads up* to other Dopers – it’s not exactly a NSFW article, but the picture will make your boss do a double-take if you have it open on your work computer.
- Heh-heh, now I made a funny.
Another reason my views on jury nullification differ from the OP’s.
You mean, playing the Accordion is illegal in Pennsylvania?
… bagpipes, too.
A venerated object is “any public monument or structure, or place of worship or burial;” or “any other object of veneration by the public or a substantial segment thereof in any public place.”
This statue fought back against sexual assault.
That strikes me as rather broad, but I ain’t the expert.
That’s what I was thinking. Any public structure? I guess the park bathroom is venerable.
Frankly I blame whoever made that statue. It’s crying out for someone to make it lewd. If you don’t want people to make inappropriate scenes with your jesus, don’t make him kneel with his face at crotch level.
I’m thinking the charge is physically mistreating the statue by making it do him but not reciprocating
Number 9 looks like Ronald is about to do a little spanking too.
The statue isn’t posed as you suggest. The kid had to climb up on the wall to get the statue “at crotch level.”
I looked at the picture. I know how the statue was posed and anyone who saw it and didn’t think teenage boys are going to have a field day with this is surprisingly innocent-minded.
edit: if anything it makes it worse. “Here, have a place to stand so that the statue’s head which would otherwise be difficult to reach becomes easy access.”
that was apprehension.
I thought that was hilarious … and such bullshit that he’s being charged. He didn’t do anything *to *the statue; it was left unharmed and unchanged (I almost said “unmolested” but I changed my mind).
If I were to post a picture of myself giving a crucifix or the Koran or any sort of Golden Mooby the finger, would I be up for the same charge? Being disrespectful of something isn’t the same as “defacing, damaging, polluting or otherwise, physically mistreating” it.
Agreed. Count this as over-zealous cops and prosecutors.
A more reasonable response would have been for the cops to visit his home, let him know that IF he ever did it again there would be trespassing charges, or public nuisance, or whatever. Just give the kid a little finger wag and be on their way.
Are you saying the statue was asking for it? So now we’re blaming the victim?