Politics: Sen. Altman: Florida Sex Laws Should Be Changed For Teens

Florida Sex Law is the most controversial and socially stigmatic under criminal statutes:

SEBASTIAN, Florida — Florida State Senator Thad Altman (R-Rockledge) told NBC news affiliate WPTV during an interview that Florida’s sexual consent laws should be changed to allow for more leniency when it comes to situations where an 18-year-old high school senior has romantic relations with younger underclassmen.

Sen. Thad Altman

Altman’s remarks were prompted by the case involving 18-year-old Kaitlyn “Kate” Hunt, who was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Sophomore while they both were attending Sebastian River High School.

Hunt, who is facing felony charges in that case, rejected a plea deal last week made by a Florida State attorney which would have labeled Hunt a sex offender.  Kate’s mother created an online petition to ask the State Attorney to drop the charges in that case.   Altman described the case as “tragic situation” where a teen now faces 15 years in prison.

Although Altman’s Florida Senate District 16 is mostly made up of south Brevard County, it also covers northern portions of Indian River County, including Sebastian River High School.

Politics: Sen. Altman: Florida Sex Laws Should Be Changed For Teens.

Florida Sex Laws are the most controversial and socially stigmatic under criminal statutes

Statutory rape and age of consent laws come from English common law and have been enforced to varying degrees for nearly 8 centuries.

The American legal system adopted these laws and during the past century states have modified and updated the laws to better address present day issues.

In recent years, there was a shift in the views that statutory rape laws should only apply to young females. Today, most laws are not gender specific. These laws were originally intended to protect the chastity, (virginity) of young women.

In a few states today it can still be argued that previous sexual experience precludes a young woman from protection under the statutory rape laws. It is also still an affirmative defense in some states to claim there was sufficient reason to believe a minor was older than their actual age.

These laws were originally intended to protect the chastity, (virginity) of young women. In a few states today it can still be argued that previous sexual experience precludes a young woman from protection under the statutory rape laws. It is also still an affirmative defense in some states to claim there was sufficient reason to believe a minor was older than their actual age.