US: 2 years jail for a photo with a statue

[Sahrani South]

http://news.kron4.com/news/teen-could-get-two-years-for-facebook-photos-with-jesus-statue/

2 years for a photo for Jesus? There goes the separation of Church and State...

[Fumonoxii]

http://news.kron4.com/news/teen-could-get-two-years-for-facebook-photos-with-jesus-statue/

2 years for a photo for Jesus? There goes the separation of Church and State...

Asinine behavior, but not worthy of jail time. This is ridiculous.

[RPGers]

Two whole years!?

[Themiclesia]

The USA have never been completely separated from the Church anyway, and the legislation in question does not solely apply to statues of Christ, but generally "venerated objects". Jesus is irrelevant to this case. If it had been a statue of Washington, it would still constitute the same offence. The fact that the statue was erected there already indicated its special place amongst the local residents who venerate the statue.

The legislation seeks to penalize those who offend the senses of the residents, not those who desecrate religious figures.

[Sahrani South]

I mean, even if he existed, Jesus was probably not white, more like Arab. Why should he be punished only bc some religious nuts are offended?

[Southern Babylonia]

The USA have never been completely separated from the Church anyway, and the legislation in question does not solely apply to statues of Christ, but generally "venerated objects".

Furthermore, the act would have been indecent anyway on any statue of any person.

It would've been, but that doesn't mean it merits giving a 14-YEAR-OLD two years in jail.

[RPGers]

The USA have never been completely separated from the Church anyway, and the legislation in question does not solely apply to statues of Christ, but generally "venerated objects".

Furthermore, the act would have been indecent anyway on any statue of any person.

It would've been, but that doesn't mean it merits giving a 14-YEAR-OLD two years in jail.

Exactly...

[Themiclesia]

The USA have never been completely separated from the Church anyway, and the legislation in question does not solely apply to statues of Christ, but generally "venerated objects".

Furthermore, the act would have been indecent anyway on any statue of any person.

It would've been, but that doesn't mean it merits giving a 14-YEAR-OLD two years in jail.

He can get two years in jail. He may get none at all. Read news articles with care to discern what is conjectured and what is reported to have happened.

[Imperializt Russia]

The USA have never been completely separated from the Church anyway, and the legislation in question does not solely apply to statues of Christ, but generally "venerated objects".

Furthermore, the act would have been indecent anyway on any statue of any person.

Since when was public indecency a charge bearing jail time? Since when was "simulating sexual acts" worthy of jail time?

He's looking at being sent to juvie for two years. Two years. Length of sentence itself aside, what the hell kind of place is Juvie (or jail) to send a kid for, for a crime like this? Juvie is where you send kids convicted of theft, violent acts.
It's wholly disproportionate.

If you feel this is somehow worthy of judicial action, give him a thousand hours community service or something.
Jail time? That's astoundingly retarded.

[Jumalariik]

He should face longer.

[Southern Babylonia]

It would've been, but that doesn't mean it merits giving a 14-YEAR-OLD two years in jail.

He can get two years in jail. He may get none at all.

I know, and I'm saying it's ridiculous that he even can.

[Big Jim P]

At least we are not beheading him.

[Ashmoria]

unless he has a history of bad behavior he is only going to get a bit of probation and an juvenile record that will be expunged when he reaches legal adult age.

he is white after all.

[Hurdegaryp]

Two whole years!?

That's how it works in theocracies, yes.

[RPGers]

He should face longer.

WHAT!!!! WHY?!!!

[Sahrani South]

The kicker: He recently showed up at the church to apologize. And according to the Daily Mail, the church itself didn’t want the kid arrested. Maybe the priests have other plans in mind for a 14-year old boy?

[Gauthier]

At least we are not beheading him.

>Edgy nonsequitur implying that IS is a legitimate government representative of all Muslims worldwide.

[Jumalariik]

When I saw the photograph, I kinda died inside for a bit. I honestly hate that kid. So many people rest so much on Jesus, Muhamad etc. People should just respect that, if not, I would feel no reason to then respect their bodily integrity or the government's existence. Good thing that he's being punished.

[Tubbsalot]

Since when was public indecency a charge bearing jail time?

Er, surely it's always been punishable by jail, at least in some cases? If you spent all day walking around a school naked, I doubt you'd be let off with a fine, yet it's difficult to interpret as sexual assault.

[Themiclesia]

He can get two years in jail. He may get none at all.

I know, and I'm saying it's ridiculous that he even can.

Legislation cannot specify a penalty for every possible variation of an offence, hence judges are provided with some flexibility with sentencing. In this case, I imagine that two years is the maximum sentence possible, meant for the most egregious and deliberate offence, that is to say a real attempt to offend the local residents, instead of the action in the article cited.

I'd remind the thread that the judge (or judges) is not completely at liberty to meet out any sentence he pleases; he remains bound by precedence, as is the tradition of common law.

[Tubbsalot]

Good thing that he's being punished.

I'm sure you remember when you were 14. Did you never do anything stupid or inconsiderate? How on earth is jail time a reasonable response?

[Imperializt Russia]

Since when was public indecency a charge bearing jail time?

Er, surely it's always been punishable by jail, at least in some cases? If you spent all day walking around a school naked, I doubt you'd be let off with a fine, yet it's difficult to interpret as sexual assault.

It's almost as though "public indecency" covers a long list of acts varied in severity or action.

[Southern Babylonia]

When I saw the photograph, I kinda died inside for a bit. I honestly hate that kid. So many people rest so much on Jesus, Muhamad etc. People should just respect that, if not, I would feel no reason to then respect their bodily integrity or the government's existence. Good thing that he's being punished.

So if someone offends you, they should automatically be punished in a way that'll destroy their early adult life?
That's the most self-centred opinion I've heard this week, and that's saying alot. And if your faith can't withstand an idiot posing rudely with a statue of your prophet just fine, then maybe your faith isn't as perfect as you think.

[Themiclesia]

The USA have never been completely separated from the Church anyway, and the legislation in question does not solely apply to statues of Christ, but generally "venerated objects".

Furthermore, the act would have been indecent anyway on any statue of any person.

Since when was public indecency a charge bearing jail time? Since when was "simulating sexual acts" worthy of jail time?

He's looking at being sent to juvie for two years. Two years. Length of sentence itself aside, what the hell kind of place is Juvie (or jail) to send a kid for, for a crime like this? Juvie is where you send kids convicted of theft, violent acts.
It's wholly disproportionate.

If you feel this is somehow worthy of judicial action, give him a thousand hours community service or something.
Jail time? That's astoundingly retarded.

I could be looking at dying tomorrow, and that is the situation that the defendant (or prisoner, if this is a felony) faces. There is no certainty that he will face two years in prison, or even that he would be convicted.

[Imperializt Russia]

Since when was public indecency a charge bearing jail time? Since when was "simulating sexual acts" worthy of jail time?

He's looking at being sent to juvie for two years. Two years. Length of sentence itself aside, what the hell kind of place is Juvie (or jail) to send a kid for, for a crime like this? Juvie is where you send kids convicted of theft, violent acts.
It's wholly disproportionate.

If you feel this is somehow worthy of judicial action, give him a thousand hours community service or something.
Jail time? That's astoundingly retarded.

I could be looking at dying tomorrow, and that is the situation that the defendant (or prisoner, if this is a felony) faces. There is no certainty that he will face two years in prison, or even that he would be convicted.

Way to miss the point.
How and why is two years a sentence that could be applied to this action?

"Simulating sexual acts" is an inference that you (generic you), the viewer of the image, are bestowing upon that image.
Which is presumably why it's referred to as "simulation".