http://hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071108/NEWS12/71108009/1029
“Sorensen was convicted of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim between 13-17, according to the registry.”
Not sure when the crime occurred. It’s possible he was 18 and the girl was 17 at the time, but it also could have been he was 25 and the victim was 13.
750.520e. Fourth degree criminal sexual conduct
Sec. 520e. (1) A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree if he or she engages in sexual contact with another person and any of the following circumstances exists:
(a) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the sexual contact. Force or coercion includes but is not limited to any of the circumstances listed in section (1) (f) (I) to (v).
(b) The actor knows or has reason to know that the victim is incapable, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.
(c) That other person is under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections, and the actor is an employee or a contractual employee or volunteer with, the department of corrections who has knowledge that the other person is under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.
(2) Criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or by a fine of not more than $500.00 or both.
Thanks. I'm not sure exactly what he did, but the above doesn't look good.
THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 328 of 1931
750.520e Criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree; misdemeanor.
Sec. 520e.
(1) A person is guilty of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree if he or she engages in sexual contact with another person and if any of the following circumstances exist:
(a) That other person is at least 13 years of age but less than 16 years of age, and the actor is 5 or more years older than that other person.
(b) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the sexual contact. Force or coercion includes, but is not limited to, any of the following circumstances:
(i) When the actor overcomes the victim through the actual application of physical force or physical violence.
(ii) When the actor coerces the victim to submit by threatening to use force or violence on the victim, and the victim believes that the actor has the present ability to execute that threat.
(iii) When the actor coerces the victim to submit by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim, or any other person, and the victim believes that the actor has the ability to execute that threat. As used in this subparagraph, “to retaliate” includes threats of physical punishment, kidnapping, or extortion.
(iv) When the actor engages in the medical treatment or examination of the victim in a manner or for purposes which are medically recognized as unethical or unacceptable.
(v) When the actor achieves the sexual contact through concealment or by the element of surprise.
(c) The actor knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally incapable, mentally incapacitated, or physically helpless.
(d) That other person is related to the actor by blood or affinity to the third degree and the sexual contact occurs under circumstances not otherwise prohibited by this chapter. It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this subdivision that the other person was in a position of authority over the defendant and used this authority to coerce the defendant to violate this subdivision. The defendant has the burden of proving this defense by a preponderance of the evidence. This subdivision does not apply if both persons are lawfully married to each other at the time of the alleged violation.
(e) The actor is a mental health professional and the sexual contact occurs during or within 2 years after the period in which the victim is his or her client or patient and not his or her spouse. The consent of the victim is not a defense to a prosecution under this subdivision. A prosecution under this subsection shall not be used as evidence that the victim is mentally incompetent.
(f) That other person is at least 16 years of age but less than 18 years of age and a student at a public or nonpublic school, and the actor is a teacher, substitute teacher, or administrator of that public or nonpublic school. This subdivision does not apply if the other person is emancipated or if both persons are lawfully married to each other at the time of the alleged violation.
(2) Criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
Remember there was a case in New England somewhere (I believe) where a guy who had been convicted of some kind of sexual activity with his girlfriend (and he was only 2 years older or something like that) was killed by someone who went looking for ‘sex offenders’ to kill. Problem being that the guy was not evil or even a deviant. He had merely had sex with his girlfriend while both were teens very close in age.
I don’t know if certain crimes should put the ‘sex offender for life’ status on a person. Some of them seem totally different than what we THINK OF when we say the word sex offender.
Maybe only rape, attempted rape, child rape (not statutory rape) and molestation should be given this designation.
Technically speaking, someone who grabbed someone’s behind at a club could be given sex offender status. That’s ridiculous.