If a man lived in a country with a pretty low age of consent (say Canada - 14) and started a relationship online with a girl who was under the age of consent in the country where she lived but over the age of consent in the guy's country (say a 15 year old in the US) would the man be a pedophile and therefore able to be arrested? Because he wouldn't be breaking the law in his country...And what if it was the other way round and an American man was talking to a 15 year old Canadian? This hasn't happened to me or anyone I know but I was just wondering.
2007-11-21 03:05:31 · 7 answers · asked by xangel123x 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Going to a different state or country for the purposes of committing an act that is illegal in your state or country of residence is itself illegal. It's not enforced very often. Mostly for felonies. US citizens that travel to Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia for the purposes of engaging in pedophilia are regularly arrested.
2007-11-21 03:10:31 · answer #1 · answered by Chad 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The first person to answer is entirely correct. However the U.S. actually has special laws against travel to another country in order to engage in sex with someone under the age of 18. So regardless of the fact that consent is 14 in Canada the U.S. would still consider him as having broken the law and arrest him when he came back to his country if they knew about it.
2007-11-21 11:13:28 · answer #2 · answered by ogr8bearded1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the american guy was 19 or older and talking to a 15 yr old , not matter where she is, in America he could be prosecuted. typically in most american states that will allow up to 3 years difference in age. But not over that. Even so, I guy that would be interested in a 15 yrold when he is 18 needs to have his head examined. You can say what you want but a 15 yr old is a child physically and emotionally.
2007-11-21 11:12:35 · answer #3 · answered by logank1469 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to abide by the laws in other countries as well as your own, not one or the other.
I know in America you must obey American law regarding age of consent abroad as well because there is a ban on what is called "sex tourism".
2007-11-21 11:17:49 · answer #4 · answered by Dave 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the other people said, you are bound by the jurisdiction you are with.
Are you asking for the legal or medical definition of pedophile because according to the medical dicitonary a pedophile is:
ped·o·phil·i·a (pd-fl-, pd-)
n.
The act or fantasy on the part of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with a child or children.
So even if the age of consent is low... it is still an adult engaging in sexual activities with a child, and still makes them a pedophile.
2007-11-21 11:14:49 · answer #5 · answered by Harley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're bound by the law in the jurisdiction of where you live. for example the drinking age in canada is 19, but someone in the us, even if they are canadian, cannot legally drink until they are 21.
2007-11-21 11:09:29 · answer #6 · answered by jack spicer 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
america could ask canada to hand over the individual in question, canada can then choose to assist or decline but under canadian law he has done nothing illeagle, so the choice is theirs
2007-11-21 11:21:14 · answer #7 · answered by eyesinthedrk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋