my college roomate who is over 18, 19 probably was having sex with a 15 year old girl. he is a nice kid doing something really stupid. i dont want to get involved and dont live with him anymore. i also have no proof except i could hear them having sex like every freakin day! i dont want to get involved, but since it is such a serious matter im wondering am i legally liable? i would feel terrible reporting it even though it is a serious crime because the kid is just being an idiot but he isnt a young girl hunter or pedophile or rapist or anything like that, he is a hard working pre med student who thinks he is in love. but i would feel even worse behind bars.. so in california what are the chances i could get in serious trouble for this?
2007-07-31 06:12:15 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I think you should be a man and report it. Famous words.."all it takes for evil to abound is for good men to do nothing". What if it was your girl? It's against the law for a reason. And he is a pedophile, shes a child for piety sakes!!
2007-07-31 08:17:46 · answer #1 · answered by luvngspnful 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm sure that California has a toll free hotline to report child abuse.
It is that agency's obligation to determine what constitutes child abuse and what does not. It is not your obligation and you do not have to know what the law is.
They will keep your name confidential unless required by law to disclose it in court.
call now. 1 - 800 - 540 - 4000
***
btw, in most states if you know of what may be child abuse and fail to report it, you are yourself guilty of a crime. If this situation occurred repeatedly over a long period of time and you still don't come forward, you might even be charged as an accessory before the fact (accomplice) if/after the young lady's parents complain to the police.
that might make you and this other guy roommates again -- in San Quentin State Prison.
call now. 1-800-540-4000
2007-07-31 06:35:10 · answer #2 · answered by Spock (rhp) 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about that "Don't get involved" response? That, unfortunately, seems to have become the "American Way", and very likely even what your liberal California teachers and school administrators would say. The police would have a very different answer.
Your "nice friend" is a felon, guilty of statutory rape, and you could be very well be found guilty as an accomplice, because you know about his crime and have failed to report it. You are obviously aware of your moral responsibility, so do something about it.
2007-07-31 06:24:33 · answer #3 · answered by senior citizen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Based on what you said I do not believe you have any liability. Your roomate will be discovered though, at which time he will be prosecuted. Ever heard of a 15 year old girl who can keep quiet about sex relations? She will tell a friend who will tell a friend who will tell a friend who will eventually tell someone who will tell her parents and then they will get the cops on him. Too bad he will learn the hard way.
2007-07-31 06:17:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You're not obligated to report it.
But you can advise him as a roommate and friend.
That's not a big difference in age although he could still go to jail if someone press charges.
Tell him to cool down until she becomes of age.
2007-07-31 06:15:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have to speck for experience here. I was 15 and my boyfriend was 19, we had sex my mom found out a pressed charges. he didn't do time or anything like that just had lots of fines to pay. I was in love and still am in love with this man to this day and i am 24 years old. if they believe they are in love and are happy talk to them about it. let them know you are concerned about what might happen to them if someone were to find out. if they still want to be together ten let them be.
2007-07-31 06:35:27 · answer #6 · answered by dixiedarlin 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dont get involved, but you can call dateline. Even have him watch dateline. That would scare the beejeezes out of him I hope.
2007-07-31 06:18:57 · answer #7 · answered by stormey_84074 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are not legally bound to report it and can't get in trouble for not reporting it. he can get in trouble
2007-07-31 06:17:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forget it, unless you like to get into deep do do.
2007-07-31 06:16:40 · answer #9 · answered by Old Guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you are...
morally and legally.
If you know about a crime and dont report it you are as guilty as the perp.
2007-07-31 06:16:20 · answer #10 · answered by smitty031 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋