After researching Molestation, I am really worried that what I've done before could get me into trouble?

Question

Hello. When I was younger (around12-14), I had a bad habit of putting stuff down girls back, giving them small wedgies and poking their butts. However, when I had to do a project on politeness, I realised that I know better, and my parents have taught me to be polite and not be an animal. So I vowed to stop and it has been almost 3-4 years and I have cleaned up my act (in fact, some women think I'm a true gentlemen, and thus have some female friends who trust me, and I do not let them down).

However, I was researching molestation after hearing many cases about it, I was horrified what consitutes as molestation, and now I am worried that what I did could be seen as molestation.

I never harassed/did anything sexual to 5-6 year olds. In fact, I never made young girls perform or act out sexual acts for me. I never stripped them, nor did I strip in front of them. But people tell me that today in America, it has gone to an extreme of accusations.

So should I be preparing to head to jail?

Answer 1

If nothing has surfaced yet, there is no reason to believe that there could ever be a case against you. It would have been right after the incident that problems would have been brought to light if indeed there were going to be charges pressed. Please just keep treating women like people, not like things that you can do with what you please. I love America, but everyone has gotten so touchy. I am not in any way saying what you did was right, but seriously, if we have nothing better to do with our time than go through our history and come up with wrongs that had been done to us ten years ago and expect that we can punish people for them now, we have truly become a sad culture.

Answer 2

Since you were a minor yourself, and the girls were probably about your own age, your actions probably would be defined more as "harassment" or "battery" and not "molestation." The charge of molestation is usually applied to adult men, or teenage men who can be tried as adults.

Also, your actions were rooted in physical aggression, and not sexual gratification. So any charge brought against you would probably not rely heavily on molestation.

You shouldn't be worrying about if you're going to get sued or jailed for your actions... what you SHOULD be worried about is how your actions affected those young girls, the unhappiness and potential mental anguish you caused them. If you can find these girls, go and apologize to them. Tell them you were a stupid young boy, but now you realize what you did was wrong, and hope they can forgive you. Your candor can help heal the hurt you caused, win their forgiveness, and prevent any potential lawsuits they might otherwise launch against you.

Answer 3

No, because as someone currently in public school, its not molestation, its sexual harrasment and all you get for is it is a slap on the wrist and maybe a 2 day suspension, and if you did it wen you were like 12-14 then theres no way. Thats just hormones :]

Answer 4

I think that what you did might be considered sexual harrassment, but not necessarily molestation. Also, if the people have not pressed charges, then you shouldn't be worried. I'm so glad that you have become a more polite person. Keep it up.

Answer 5

You're right that we have gone to the extremes these days. What you described is typical young boy "girls are yucky" behavior. In the olden days, boys would dip pigtails in ink wells instead of putting things down their backs. As long as you have realized that it is immature, impolite, and incorrect and have changed your ways, I think you're going great!

Answer 6

In today's society, if you look at a woman wrong, it's considered sexual harassment and could cost you your job and/or a civil case.