13 year old boy charged with second degree assault for kissing a girl

[Tankitbetter]

A 13-year-old boy in Maryland has been charged with assault after police say he grabbed a fellow eighth grader and kissed her.
Administrators at Pikesville Middle School notified the school resource officer of the incident on Wednesday morning.
Baltimore County Police say the 14-year-old girl told the officer the boy grabbed her by her shirt near her stomach, pulled her toward him and kissed her against her will. Police say the boy said someone dared him to do it.
The boy was charged as a juvenile with second-degree assault and released to his mother. Police say he was not taken to the precinct and processed.
County schools spokesman Mychael Dickerson says the boy faces school disciplinary action for violating the code of conduct.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/art...ed-6500818.php

This is getting out of hand. Sure, he should get in trouble with the school, but charging for assault? What the fuck? I did all kinds of stupid and slightly illegal things as a teenager - including once grabbing a girls ass on a dare - but to be charged for a crime for kissing a girl? That's ridiculous.

[Polyxo]

I would say some level of misdemeanor assault would be an appropriate charge. I would certainly press charges if someone did that to me.

[Kujako]

No, he's getting 2nd degree assault for restraining someone against their will.

[Crissi]

I'd probably do the same if I was suddenly grabbed and forcefully kissed. That's not acceptable for teenagers to do

[Tankitbetter]

You guys are serious? Holy shit, did you do NOTHING as a teenager?

[Flutterguy]

Just give him detention and move on. Make sure he understands he can't do that.

[Elegiac]

You guys are serious? Holy shit, did you do NOTHING as a teenager?

Not like this, since I was raised to respect people's personal boundaries.

[Crissi]

My body my choice. If you take that choice from me you are getting in trouble

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

You guys are serious? Holy shit, did you do NOTHING as a teenager?

I tried to avoid assaulting people. I know...I'm so very boring.

[TheramoreIsTheBomb]

Thats so weird

[Raptor With a Saber]

Then its only fair we start charging all the girls that kiss boys

[Elegiac]

I tried to avoid assaulting people. I know...I'm so very boring.

Inb4 people start complaining about the decline of society and how making boys treat girls as people and respecting their personal space means they're turning into sissies or women.

[Warpaladin]

That's one reason why my signature is what it is.. I've seen a lot worse when I was 13 and worst case was being expelled instead being charged with second degree assault.. Sure it was wrong but come on really .. he's 13

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

Then its only fair we start charging all the girls that kiss boys

Sure, if they are grabbing and kissing boys against their will.

[Elegiac]

That's one reason why my signature is what it is.. I've seen a lot worse when I was 13 and wort case was being expelled instead being charged with second degree assault..

Which makes it ok how?

[Flutterguy]

Inb4 people start complaining about the decline of society and how making boys treat girls as people and respecting their personal space means they're turning into sissies or women.

You're making a huge assumption of a 13-yr-old kid who has just been introduced to a new biological desire as well as increased peer pressure(was dared to do it). You don't put these kids in handcuffs, you make it a teachable moment. Last thing we need to do is turn young males into anti-social shut ins because they're afraid of being human.

[Orange Joe]

You guys are serious? Holy shit, did you do NOTHING as a teenager?

I did plenty of shit. I just didn't go around grabbing/kissing girls without some kind of permission first.

[Phookah]

You guys are serious? Holy shit, did you do NOTHING as a teenager?

Did lots of stuff, forcing people to do things against their will wasn't one of them

[Elegiac]

You're making a huge assumption of a 13-yr-old kid who has just been introduced to a new biological desire as well as increased peer pressure(was dared to do it). You don't put these kids in handcuffs, you make it a teachable moment. Last thing we need to do is turn young males into anti-social shut ins because they're afraid of being human.

Which is precisely what you lot do by perpetuating the notion that boys shouldn't cry or express emotion. Go figure.

[Deleted]

You guys are serious? Holy shit, did you do NOTHING as a teenager?

Kiss someone against their will? No.