3 ms·

> For more background, the felony is from flashing someone (while drunk) who was just under 17 years old. This was the second offense (the other was years ago).

> For more background, the felony is from flashing someone (while drunk) who was just under 17 years old. This was the second offense (the other was years ago). They are inexcusable and disgusting offenses, but they are permanently on my background. Just a side note, why are these felonies? Or even crimes to begin with? It’s not like you tried to force yourself on those underage girls or rape them. In Europe, there are many nude beaches where girls under 18 regularly go to with their families. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that it’s harassment and unwanted on the part of the girls. But I am surprised that it is a felony and not a misdemeanor.

bootloop 9y ago
You don't know the details.
- wilsonnb 9y ago
  I don't think I can imagine a situation where exposing yourself in public merits 7 months in jail and permanently making it almost impossible to find employment.
antisthenes 9y ago
A good lawyer should have been able to negotiate it down to a misdemeanor anyway as long as there was no physical contact with the victim (which then gets into sexual assault territory, something that is unlikely to get leniency) It really sucks for the OP, but I feel like he was massively screwed during trial & the legal process
ben509 9y ago
Doing it once while drunk is no big deal, but there are exhibitionists and such who will keep doing it over and over. It's one of those things where something seems harmless enough, but there's always That Guy who is going to take it to extremes. So I think the laws are motivated by a handful of recidivist offenders and catch a lot of non-recidivist drunks in the dragnet. We also have a problem with media / media consumer biases: the media tends to sensationalize these crimes, and outraged voters always think punishments are too light. To put some ideological points up for consideration: from (some) feminists, exhibitionism (like other forms of sexual assault) is used by men to assert power over women and from (some) men's rights activists, the laws are harsh and broad due to pervasive discrimination against male sexuality.
varcharlie 9y ago
Exposing yourself to a child is a very serious crime... I get the impression that OP is minimizing by saying "flashing someone (while drunk) who was just under 17 years old"...
sexoffender 9y ago
It is a misdemeanor, but a second offense turns it into a felony automatically. My lawyer could not get it back down to a misdemeanor. I am utterly and completely screwed.
jacquesm 9y ago
The USA has a pretty complicated relationship with sexuality.

bootloop 9y ago

You don't know the details.

wilsonnb 9y ago
I don't think I can imagine a situation where exposing yourself in public merits 7 months in jail and permanently making it almost impossible to find employment.

antisthenes 9y ago

A good lawyer should have been able to negotiate it down to a misdemeanor anyway as long as there was no physical contact with the victim (which then gets into sexual assault territory, something that is unlikely to get leniency) It really sucks for the OP, but I feel like he was massively screwed during trial & the legal process

ben509 9y ago

Doing it once while drunk is no big deal, but there are exhibitionists and such who will keep doing it over and over. It's one of those things where something seems harmless enough, but there's always That Guy who is going to take it to extremes. So I think the laws are motivated by a handful of recidivist offenders and catch a lot of non-recidivist drunks in the dragnet. We also have a problem with media / media consumer biases: the media tends to sensationalize these crimes, and outraged voters always think punishments are too light. To put some ideological points up for consideration: from (some) feminists, exhibitionism (like other forms of sexual assault) is used by men to assert power over women and from (some) men's rights activists, the laws are harsh and broad due to pervasive discrimination against male sexuality.

varcharlie 9y ago

Exposing yourself to a child is a very serious crime... I get the impression that OP is minimizing by saying "flashing someone (while drunk) who was just under 17 years old"...

sexoffender 9y ago

It is a misdemeanor, but a second offense turns it into a felony automatically. My lawyer could not get it back down to a misdemeanor. I am utterly and completely screwed.

jacquesm 9y ago

The USA has a pretty complicated relationship with sexuality.