Communicating with a Minor

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois

I am a male high school teacher in Illinois. Last year, a female student took my number without my consent. (Still a silly mistake on my part.) Idiotically, I wanted to protect her from getting in trouble so I did not tell school administration or her parents. We have texted a good amount. While the vast majority of it was very benign and mundane, there are a few instances I'm concerned about. She has shared some of her sexual experiences in some detail. I never asked her to, but I did respond by saying it was hot. I have also told her that I found her attractive and that if we were the same age, we'd have a chance at being together. She has also mentioned drug use. She has sent me a non-sexual picture. And she asked if she could see me again and I suggested a public school event. I must emphasize, I never solicited anything sexual. I've never spoken to her in a graphic way about each other or anyone else. I've never asked her to speak to me in a graphic manner. I've never encouraged her to use drugs or to even disobey her parents. Her father was monitoring her text messages and reported my number to crimestoppers. I've been brought in for questioning, but not charged with anything. If the police search the text message transcripts, do I face any potential legal charges for having a minor's number without parental knowledge/consent, offering to meet in a public place, receiving a non-sexual picture, for having a minor share sexually explicit details, or for letting a minor know you find them attractive?

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Quoting Anonymo25

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I am a male high school teacher in Illinois. Last year, a female student took my number without my consent. (Still a silly mistake on my part.) Idiotically, I wanted to protect her from getting in trouble so I did not tell school administration or her parents. We have texted a good amount. While the vast majority of it was very benign and mundane, there are a few instances I'm concerned about. She has shared some of her sexual experiences in some detail. I never asked her to, but I did respond by saying it was hot. I have also told her that I found her attractive and that if we were the same age, we'd have a chance at being together. She has also mentioned drug use. She has sent me a non-sexual picture. And she asked if she could see me again and I suggested a public school event.

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Pardon my bluntness but you're an idiot. Hardly a week goes by that some teacher doesn't get arrested and in the papers for just your behavior.

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Quoting Anonymo25

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I must emphasize, I never solicited anything sexual. I've never spoken to her in a graphic way about each other or anyone else. I've never asked her to speak to me in a graphic manner. I've never encouraged her to use drugs or to even disobey her parents.

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And now you are in denial.

You think a jury will buy that explanation?

Think again.

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Quoting Anonymo25

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I've been brought in for questioning,

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And you answered questions without a lawyer?

Now you've really stepped in it.

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Quoting Anonymo25

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but not charged with anything.

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Yet.

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Quoting Anonymo25

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If the police search the text message transcripts, do I face any potential legal charges for having a minor's number without parental knowledge/consent, offering to meet in a public place, receiving a non-sexual picture, for having a minor share sexually explicit details, or for letting a minor know you find them attractive?

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Yes, you do.

I suggest you get yourself a criminal attorney right now. You are well on your way to digging yourself a big hole.

I'm guessing that your job and career might already be in jeopardy.

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Quoting Anonymo25

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having a minor's number without parental knowledge/consen

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In an of itself, no. Minors can give their numbers to anyone they wish. If parents want to limit that, they can take advantage of features within either the phone itself, their service plan, both, or take the device away if they can't or won't use various forms of parental controls.

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offering to meet in a public place,

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In and of itself, no. BUT, there are potential issues where this could be a contributing factor - such as charges for things like contributing to the delinquency of a minor, parental interference, etc - much will depend on a broad look at the situation.

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receiving a non-sexual picture

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if she can send it to her grandmother, she can send it to anyone

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for having a minor share sexually explicit details

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That could be your ticket to handcuffs - not to mention the loss of your job. If you've done this, you need to get offline and speak to a local criminal defense attorney ASAP. YOU are the adult here, and the legal burden is on YOU to keep the student/teacher relationship

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or for letting a minor know you find them attractive?

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Again, context is everything. I can tell some teenager at the grovery store I find them attractive - "hey, you're very pretty/handsome". But you're a TEACHER. YOU don't do that sort of thing with a student unless you are ready to give up your career and enjoy three hots and a cot. The student/teacher relationship VERY bad news for you. If you've lost sight of appropriate boundaries, then you need to get yourself into some counseling ASAP - and cut off ALL communication with this girl that doesn't occur in a classroom packed with students.

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I've been brought in for questioning, but not charged with anything.

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All you can do is wait out the DA - ultimately it's up to them whether or not a warrant for your arrest will be issued and for what specific charges(s). Again, you need to be speaking to a criminal defense attorney first thing on Monday, and keep that number in your wallet, just in case.

Apparently, there was something special about your dialogue with this girl. No dad is going to forwared a number to crimestoppers, the police or anyone else unless he knew you were too old to invove yourself with his daughter. You have something going on where at bare minimum, you better get your lawyer and your union rep on speed dial.

"She has shared some of her sexual experiences in some detail. I never asked her to, but I did respond by saying it was hot. I have also told her that I found her attractive and that if we were the same age, we'd have a chance at being together."

There is your mistake.

You had the option to ignore her, block her number, report her to School Admin....and you chose to respond to the teenager....and encourage her actually.

If I were you...I'd be getting a lawyer. You have a criminal case in your future.

And start looking for a new job. Because you are gonna be getting your butt canned (sorry, not tapped, but canned). You won't be collecting Unemployment either as your termination will be for gross misconduct. Expect your teaching license to be revoked for the rest of your life.

I'm just going to face-palm.

And agree heartily with Adjuster Jack. And all y'all, really.

You not only will not ever get another job teaching, you won't be getting a job in any capacity in a school setting. Not administrator, not secretary, not janitor.

Once upon a time, some 30 years ago I was 25 and in a bar with friends from high school. We ran into another guy we somewhat knew, and everybody started talking about what they were doing those days. It turned out that this guy was teaching at our former high school. The drunker he got, the more he complained about the fact that he wasn't allowed to date any of his students. We were so disgusted we reported him and he got fired.

This guy reminds me of that guy.

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Quoting Anonymo25

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My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois

I am a male high school teacher in Illinois. Last year, a female student took my number without my consent.

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Exactly how did this happen?

Look. She was a student. You're a teacher. She could be Angelina Jolie, but she's still OFF LIMITS. It's basic common sense.

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Pardon my bluntness but you're an idiot.

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As a former teacher, please let me add: WHAT THE BLEEDING CHRIST IS WRONG WITH YOU?? Jesus H. Christ in a sidecar, what the HELL kind of Drano have you been drinking?

A million years ago, when I was a high school student, one of my German teachers - who was also a family friend that I had known since I was a small child, we attended the same church, even! - got into hot water for picking a bunch of us up from the bus stop on a particularly frigid winter morning. Most of us were his students, and half of us were in the German Folk Dancers, and most of us knew him from church, but he got yelled at for picking us up because it APPEARED improper. He got in trouble for doing something completely lovely and totally innocent, and was promised that if he ever did it again, no matter how crappy the weather, he would lose his job. I wasn't allowed to have my track coach's phone number, even though he was one of the most important people in my life, and when I attended a Board event with my other German teacher (who was a woman!!), I had to have a signed permission slip from my guardians even though they were also attending.

My teachers kept to incredibly high ethical standards.

Then we have jackasses like you. Were you not paying attention that first week of Education classes, where we're told over and over and over again that we may NOT socialize with our students EVER, IN ANY FASHION, unless a parent is a party to the socializing? That our students are NOT our friends, EVER?

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(Still a silly mistake on my part.)

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A mistake is when you type "nda" instead of "and". This was willful. Don't you DARE call it a "mistake".

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Idiotically, I wanted to protect her from getting in trouble so I did not tell school administration or her parents. We have texted a good amount.

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..and didn't block her number, because you're a godsdamned moron, thinking with the wrong portion of your anatomy.

You need to lose your teaching credentials forever and never be allowed near a child of any age, ever again. Enjoy your life on the sex offender registry, you frelling cretin.

^^^I kinda like this person up there!^^^

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Quoting LawResearcherMissy

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As a former teacher, please let me add: WHAT THE BLEEDING CHRIST IS WRONG WITH YOU?? Jesus H. Christ in a sidecar, what the HELL kind of Drano have you been drinking?

A million years ago, when I was a high school student, one of my German teachers - who was also a family friend that I had known since I was a small child, we attended the same church, even! - got into hot water for picking a bunch of us up from the bus stop on a particularly frigid winter morning. Most of us were his students, and half of us were in the German Folk Dancers, and most of us knew him from church, but he got yelled at for picking us up because it APPEARED improper. He got in trouble for doing something completely lovely and totally innocent, and was promised that if he ever did it again, no matter how crappy the weather, he would lose his job. I wasn't allowed to have my track coach's phone number, even though he was one of the most important people in my life, and when I attended a Board event with my other German teacher (who was a woman!!), I had to have a signed permission slip from my guardians even though they were also attending.

My teachers kept to incredibly high ethical standards.

Then we have jackasses like you. Were you not paying attention that first week of Education classes, where we're told over and over and over again that we may NOT socialize with our students EVER, IN ANY FASHION, unless a parent is a party to the socializing? That our students are NOT our friends, EVER?



A mistake is when you type "nda" instead of "and". This was willful. Don't you DARE call it a "mistake".



..and didn't block her number, because you're a godsdamned moron, thinking with the wrong portion of your anatomy.

You need to lose your teaching credentials forever and never be allowed near a child of any age, ever again. Enjoy your life on the sex offender registry, you frelling cretin.

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*in complete awe of Missy*

When I grow up I want to be just like Missy.

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Quoting cbg

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When I grow up I want to be just like Missy.

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Me three!