Two Minors in a Sexual Relationship

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: WA

I have a sister who is a minor (14). She seems to have engaged in sensual acts with her (presumed 14 yr old) 'boyfriend'.
This all happened when she was emotionally compromised and gave in to his ruthless harrassment through text.

What are the laws surrounding this in washington, and what can be done? For example, could something be put on the boyfriend's record? Could he be charged with a criminal act? The boy has no mother and a father who drinks, so his parents can't even be talked to.

I am at a loss, because it feels as if something should be done. Also, I'm rather emotionally shaken by this (protective older sibling) so if you know of any resources in washington that could assist me... that would be helpful.

Thank you!!!

Yes, the boyfriend can be charged with a class C felony:

RCW 9A.44.089
Child molestation in the third degree.

(1) A person is guilty of child molestation in the third degree when the person has, or knowingly causes another person under the age of eighteen to have, sexual contact with another who is at least fourteen years old but less than sixteen years old and not married to the perpetrator and the perpetrator is at least forty-eight months older than the victim.

(2) Child molestation in the third degree is a class C felony.

Other offenses can, and probably will, apply. This was the first and easiest to leap out at me.

Understand, however, that they could BOTH be charged. It is doubtful that her attorney will be able to show that she was so "emotionally compromised" (whatever that means) that she felt she had no choice but to have sex with him.

Your parents might consider - at the very least - a therapist for your sister and see if a restraining order protecting her from the boyfriend is possible.

Thank you so much cdwjava - I'll look into that! The more options I can discover, the more I feel confident this situation can be resolved.

Actually, there is likely no criminal charge that can be brought against the boyfriend. For the statute that Carl posted to be charged, the perpetrator must be "at least forty-eight months older than the victim." Since you state that your sister is over 14, and the boyfriend is "presumably" also 14, the statute does not apply. Since this age differential is uniform with all sex crimes involving minors in Washington statutes, the boyfriend would have to be at least 18 to be criminally charged. Also, in my experience, judges in Washington (at least in my area) are very reluctant to name minors under the age of 16 as respondents in restraining orders. Therefore, unfortunately, I doubt that you will be able get any satisfaction in this matter through the legal system.

I agree that professional counseling for your sister is very advisable. Also, there are public programs that could help you reach out to and mediate with the boyfriends parents...your county CPS office should have information and point you in the right direction.

I would say....you need to sit down and discuss your concerns with your parents. At the very least, your sister (if she has not already) needs "the talk" from your parents, and should be set up for an appointment with the gynecologist and placed on birth control. Sounds like she also needs to be taught to deal with Peer Pressure.

Personally, if I were your parents, I'd not be letting her spend any time unsupervised with Boyfriend, but that's just me. And be spending more time knowing who/what/when/where/why/how.....

:grumpy:

Oops ... missed the 48 month thing ... there was one I read that did not have that caveat (but it might have been for a different or more serious act), I must have copied the wrong one.

I'm so used to CA where we do not HAVE that age thing. All age would do is mean the difference between a felony or a misdemeanor, and that's only for sexual intercourse. If they utilized toys, engaged in oral, digital, or anal sex, there might be other more serious offenses that could apply. But, I'll leave it to those in WA to discuss whether or not it does.