Should a boy who is raped have to pay child support?

Question

What do you think about this?

Court Rules Boy Must Pay Child Support to His Rapist

LANCASTER, Ohio --- A Pickerington couple and their son are fighting for

custody of a baby born to a Lancaster woman charged with having unlawful s*x

with the boy, who was 15 at the time of conception.

A paternity test shows that the teen is the father of the baby born April 7

to Jane C. Crane, who was 19 when she became pregnant. Now, a judge has

ordered him to pay $50 a month in child support and set visitation at seven

hours a week.

Crane, meanwhile, faces criminal charges. A Fairfield County grand jury

indicted her last month on two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a

minor, a fourth-degree felony. Conviction carries a maximum sentence of 18

months in prison and a requirement to register as a s*x offender for 25

years.

Crane is living with the baby and her family in Lancaster.

The boy's parents say they can provide a better upbringing for the baby than

Crane can. Her household includes her stepfather, David L. Jacobs, who was

convicted of domestic violence last year for hitting, choking and pointing a

gun at Crane's 17-year-old sister and was placed on two years' probation,

court records show.

"We don't want to have our granddaughter abused by these people," the boy's

father said. "We are trying to do the right thing.

"The child support was the icing on the cake. I couldn't believe that our

son has to pay child support to his abuser."

Note also that the boy is allowed only seven hours a week of "visitation"

with his son. He's really getting an early education on the joys of the

family law system.

http://glennsacks.com/blog/?p=2651

Answer 1

that is so wrong...poeple like that should be shot... that baby should not be in that home any person in thier right mind can see that. she should shot for doin that to a child. I hope the prisoners dont let her out alive. and to make a rape victim pay child support thats wrong thats like a woman being raped by a big rich white man than expect to pay to care for the child when he takes it off her

that is wrong in every sence of the word

Answer 2

Some people need a good smack upside the head and a "what the h**l are you thinking?"

I agree with George Boole, although it is highly possible the boy could have been legitimately raped, but from the sound of it, I'm pretty sure he was coerced and the situation is statutory rape(which is still terrible) and not full blown rape.

It baffles my mind that any sane, rational thinking human being can order a 15 year (who probably doesn't even have a legit job) to pay child support AND allow this little girl to be raised in an abusive household.

It's sickening and clearly shows the court, the mother and the mother's family aren't looking out for the best interest of the child-who should be the first priority.

Answer 3

That's a hard one. When a 15 year-old girl get pregnant by a 19 year old guy (statutory rape), she still has to go through the pregnancy and take care of the child.  In this case, I would say that the boy should be encouraged to be as involved in the life of the child as possible. When he is an adult, it might be proper for him to help with specific expenses.  Better yet, let his parents adopt the child and get it away from the questionable influence of the girl.  The girl should do whatever jail time is assigned to men in a similar situation. She was significantly older, and her lack of foresight got this boy into a seriously messed-up situation. (This isn't to say that he isn't responsible for the part he played in it, but I think that there's a definite differential emotional maturity and power here. )

Answer 4

What's sad in this case is that while both sides went to court, both sides also ended up being punished.  Had they kept it out of court, they could have settled it between themselves.  Going to court is just begging for trouble in any case.  You're just asking someone to look at your situations and decide for you who should be punished and to what extent.  Isn't it better to work that out amongst yourselves?  Haven't you got the intelligence to come to some compromise?

Answer 5

Something about that situation just doesn't sound right. I agree with the person who said this case should be presented to the supreme court. I mean how can a "victim"(and I'm using that term loosely) of rape be ordered to pay child support? Especially when he was not of age to consent to sexual activity in the first place.

This whole case is BS. There was no reason for this to even go to court. It's simply a case of two kids (and yes, they were both kids, I don't care if she is legally considered an adult) messing around and making a huge mistake.  

Answer 6

I've heard about this case, and it sickens me. The girl should go to jail and the baby should live with the boy and his family.

Answer 7

No! He shouldn't have to. That's so messed up.

Answer 8

This is weird. Minors cannot give consent to have s*x. Giving consent is the equivalent of entering a contract, which minors can't do, because they can't give consent. The prosecuting attorneys in this case are being very punitive and hateful. This case should be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Answer 9

This is stupid.

Answer 10

This is NOT America

Answer 11

He should NOT have to pay any support.  

Answer 12

I really hate to hear stories like this, judgments such as the on in this case over shadows the issues surrounding rape as a whole. We really can't speculate or say what we think happened between these two teens because neither one of us was there at the time of conception. But what I can say is that I think he and his family have a good chance of appealing this ruling through the supreme court.

If I where his parents, I would do what ever I could to seek the assistance of organizations that help victims such as this young man. And they are out there, they're just going to have to find them. May be even ensuring they have a time slot on the news or any daytime talk shows may aid in their fight for custody of the child if they see fit as well.  

Answer 13

This is crazy sounds like the boys family would be the best choice to raise the baby. I am not sure if anyone has a clue first the grandmother says she doesn't want her "granddaughter" abused by these people. Then it says the boy is allowed only seven hours of visitation with his "son." Which is it?

Answer 14

They all sound like fools.

Turning a foolish escapade into a litigation match just complicates things. When it's said that he was raped, he probably wasn't held down and violated, rather coerced into s*x.

It's statutory rape if anything. Still bad (don't want people accusing me of not acknowledging it). And he probably didn't get custody because he was fifteen.

Of course it's the child who suffers.

Answer 15

I feel so sorry for that child!

Answer 16

NO.  Even if he consented to the s*x, he was only 15, and therefore his judgement was impaired.  He should not have to pay child support because a woman committed a crime.

Answer 17

No, he should not and the fact that a court would ever force a rape victim to pay their rapist is a blatant sign that the courts (and society in general) does not take male rape seriously.  I have to admit, if in some way the tables were reversed, a woman rape victim would never be forced to pay a male attacker child support.

It is very sad that our society STILL does not recognize or even try to understand male rape or sympathize with male rape victims.

Answer 18

This is beyond crazy.  The judge who made this decision should be removed from his or her bench.  I normally stay away from making statements like that, but anybody who makes a decision like this is obviously not qualified to be a judge.  

On a side note, Yahoo wouldn't post my question about this case 5 or 6 days ago.  

Answer 19

I heard about this an it is insane how the law favors women. Just a sigh that men have given an inch an they have took a mile.