Can Parents Be Charged After Not Reporting Sex Offense?

[raveneyes1313]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois

Hi,

This is a very strange situation in my opinion, but I'll see what your opinions are. My younger brother told me about a video he and his friends have of one of his friends having sex with an underage girl last week. Apparently this is old news to them but he just told me the story. Well, at any rate, his friend gave this video to a couple of his friends and I guess it spread around. He said his friend also sold it to someone on craigslist also. I have not seen this video but he said it was full blown sex and that they both acknowledge that she's underage in the video. I was very disturbed by this and asked if her parents knew or if her friends have seen it since I can imagine the mental harm this would cause a high school aged girl. He said that her friends have seen it and that she's been embarrassed, which he apparently finds funny.
The strange part in this is that he says one of his friends was really upset by this too so he informed her parents, but they did nothing about it.
He told me this when I was telling him about a mother who was charged in NC for not reporting her daughter having sex with an older man. He said lots of parents don't say anything. My question is "Is this legal for parents to ignore statutory rape?"
I also want to know if I should report this myself since I know my brother's friend who told the parents, they might have a copy of the video? The guy is 19 and the girl is 15.
I'm disgusted that parents would actually allow for this to happen, or at least not report it when they find out.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

All parties involved other than the minor face serious felonies. You should take your brother to an attorney immediately. Eventually, the proper authorities will discover video. Besides statutory rape, producing and distributing child pornography are both serious felony weight federal crimes.

 

[seniorjudge]

Sounds like a child porno ring to me.


Turn them in.

 

[justalayman]

charges would be possible for the parents but they may also be a defense if the story was considered just a story and it was told by an unreliable source.

They would have to explain why they did not investigate it at least but it may not result in charges if the DA accepts such an explanation.

Depending on how long ago this happened, the parents may also be "discussing" this with their daughter in an attempt to discover the truth, which would be seen by the DA as not neccessarily failing to report the criminal action but an effort to not report a situation that is not true.

It's up to the DA and how they see the situation.

So, now that you know, you are also aware of a criminal act. What are YOU going to say when the police ask you why you did not report it.

 

[raveneyes1313]

From what I've read online I would have to report it to DCFS right? I've also read that most of the time offenders only get 2 weeks of jail time and some community service. I hope that's not true because that seems wrong.

Do I just go into a police station and tell them what I know? or should I get the friend who reported it to the parents to print out the email sent? the friend might still have a copy of the video? should i ask or would that only get me or the friend in trouble for being in possession of it?

Also, I know this guy. He is married and has a kid. I'm not sure if his wife knows. He is a good dad though. How would this affect his visitation and custody with his child ? (I'm assuming his wife would leave him and that he'd get visitation after his coming out of prison) I know it's a random and seemingly irrelevant question, but I worry about their future relationship.

Sorry. Just not sure how to go about this?

I'm pretty sure the parents have seen it being that it was emailed to them from what I know, and I am trying to find out how to report this.

 

[justalayman]

raveneyes1313;1982834]From what I've read online I would have to report it to DCFS right?

You report crimes to the police or DA's office.

I've also read that most of the time offenders only get 2 weeks of jail time and some community service. I hope that's not true because that seems wrong.

I haven;t researched the possible sentencing statutes.

Do I just go into a police station and tell them what I know?

Sounds like a winner of an idea.

or should I get the friend who reported it to the parents to print out the email sent

?Nope. Any action that would possibly allow the perp to get rid of the vid would not be good. Info leaks easily.

the friend might still have a copy of the video?

let the police know that.

should i ask or would that only get me or the friend in trouble for being in possession of it?

it may get your friend in trouble.

Also, I know this guy. He is married and has a kid. I'm not sure if his wife knows. He is a good dad though

He's a good dad? He has sex with kids. He may appear to be a good dad but his action say otherwise.

How would this affect his visitation and custody with his child ?

well, if he is in jail, he won;t have to worry about either one. After that, it is up to the courts to determine but it could cause him some problems.

I know it's a random and seemingly irrelevant question, but I worry about their future relationship.

Maybe HE should have worried about his relationships before doing this. He caused his own problems so you need to get passed you worrying about it.

Sorry. Just not sure how to go about this?

a simple phone call to the police will get things rolling.

I'm pretty sure the parents have seen it being that it was emailed to them from what I know, and I am trying to find out how to report this.

Like I said, the parents may be attempting to deal with this in their own way, which often happens. They may not be aware it is criminal. Who knows, why care. The girl is the victim and needs to be protected from whomever is a threat.

 

[Ohiogal]

As others have said this is NOT ONLY statutory rape. This is selling and distributing child pornography. This is various other offenses. And quite frankly, YOUR BROTHER can look at being charged and sentenced and being forced to register for life for such a crime. You need to get him to an attorney as you have been told. DO NOT PASS GO but get him legal counsel IMMEDIATELY.

 

[raveneyes1313]

So my brother can be charged just for viewing the video or is it for knowing about it? If that's the case many people will need attorneys.

 

[The Occultist]

If that's the case many people will need attorneys.

Child pornography is very serious.

 

[Farfalla]

So my brother can be charged just for viewing the video or is it for knowing about it? If that's the case many people will need attorneys.

Is your brother also high school age? If not how old is he?

How long ago did this happen.

Perhaps your brother can truthfully claim that he was not party to this, was shown the video and is now doing the right thing in notifying the authorities. An attorney will help him do this.

As for worring about the man who raped this child and taped it... he knew he was committing a horrible crime and did not care. Than he compounded it by distributing tapes of it as though it's a trophy. That is one sick guy. He's a sex offender.

I do get the impression that your brother is in high school. Taking care of this legally will teach your brother a very important lesson about respecting women. He apparently has not learned that rape is wrong. You will be doing him a huge favor ... and he would need to cooperate cooperate cooperate.

We had a case here in which high school boys were sending naked photos of some of the female class mates via cell phones. They were caught at school and all prosecuted. It's a felony.