Toby Willis arrested on child rape charges. Disgusting. At least this show is already cancelled.
https://www.yahoo.com/celebrity/toby-willis-father-tlcs-willis-220326433.html
So sad.
According to the article, he is accused of having sex with an "underage girl"12 years ago, when he was 34. Exactly what that means remains to be seen. In the meantime, IMHO, calling it “child rape” is excessively inflammatory. You are potentially equating sex with a 15 yr old girl to forcibly raping a 5 year old. I don’t think 34 yr old men should be having sex with 15 yr olds, even in the event–to cite one possible extreme–that the 15 yr old is sexually experienced and willing and eager to do so, but that isn’t the same thing as raping a first grader.
I’m not defending rapists. Or excusing mature men who have sex with underage girls.
But he was charged with “rape of a child”…
On rereading the article, I see that is true. But then they go on to call it “sex with an underage girl.” In my mind those two things should not necessarily be equated. Which, let me add before the flames begin, does not mean that either is acceptable in any way.
I guess my gripe should be with the phraseology of the law, not with the OP. Sorry, @Knitkneelionmom
The applicable Tennessee statute defines “rape of a child” as involving a victim more than 3 years of age, but younger than 13 years.
http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-39/chapter-13/part-5/39-13-522
Beat me to it @dodgersmom. And it wouldn’t have looked any better to me had she been 15. He was 34.
Thanks, @dodgersmom . I would agree that a girl no older than 12 definitely qualifies as a child. I think the description in the article is misleading and unfortunate, to say the least. Rather than simply calling her “underage,” they could have said “under 13.”
Fwiw, @consolation I agree with you that if it was a just an inappropriate relationship with a 15 year old (or similar), I would bristle at it being called child rape.