Sleep With 16-Year-Olds, Get 30 Years. 15-Year-Olds? Probation!

By Brandon K. Thorp Wed., May 11 2011 at 5:01 AM

Harvey

I hope Denise Harvey is too preoccupied with her own ongoing legal to dramas to keep abreast of the ones unfolding back home. Remember Denise? She was the 42-year-old Vero Beach baseball mom who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sleeping with a 16-year-old. Thusly sentenced, she did what any sane person would do: She hit the road. Early this year, authorities found her hiding out in Saskatchewan, where she's now fighting extradition. She may win. Good for her! (And bad for her bail bond company. Just yesterday, Barnett Bail Bands coughed up $150,000 on Harvey's account.)

If she's keeping abreast of the goings-on in Florida, what might she make of this story, published in Tuesday's Sun-Sentinel: "Drummer gets probation for sex with teen girl from band camp"?

The subject of the story, 23-year-old Clinton Tyquiem Simmons, engaged in an affair with a girl between the age of 13 and 15. (The precise age is redacted from the police report.) She was a "youth counselor" at a band camp; he was an assistant director and therefore in a position of authority over the girl. Even in countries with more liberal ages of consent than this one -- Canada, say -- there are usually special prohibitions against trans-generational relationships with significant power differentials. The average Joe can sleep with 16-year-olds; a 16-year-old's teacher, counselor, and band camp director cannot. Too much potential for coercion.

Though his victim was younger than Denise Harvey's, and though he was in a position of power over the girl, Simmons will not go to prison. He will serve seven years' probation and perform 100 hours of community service.

What a relief for him! And what miserable news for Denise Harvey, reading the news in unseasonably cold Saskatchewan, knowing that if she ever goes home, she'll be tossed into prison till she's an old, old lady for committing almost exactly the same crime in almost exactly the same state at almost exactly the same time as Mr. Simmons. Justice is blind, maybe, but it's mostly just capricious.

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Tags:

Clinton Tyquiem Simmons, Denise Harvey

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Nitemyst

This is ridiculous. Wrong, yes it was wrong.

But people charged with manslaughter get off with less! No one died or was robbed, this is a ruined life based on a "Moral" crime. Wrong is wrong..and this sentence is as dark as any murder committed.

in the know

The gentleman is 23 now and was only 21 at the time of the incident. A mere six years difference. Further he did not go to trial like the lady used in the story, before trial you get leniency, after trial you get justice.

Hellvis

Usually the man gets the tougher sentence than women in these cases. This is rare time the man gets a better deal.

Goldilocks

Hello all. I have a real busy day. I have two very important meetings before lunch and a conf call at 4:30pm. I also have to pack for a trip. If you can't tell already, I am very important. Sorry, but I have to go now. I will provide updates when I can. Chao.

Bubba

What is "Chao?" Is it something to eat??

MarianOliphant

This can't be right. I have sex with 16 years olds all the time. They actually can get numerous erections.

Kuriakin

Okay. You've got a point. Denise Harvey's sentence was unreasonable.Someone out there must know how to right this wrong.

So who is it? At least one of the Legal Eagles out there must know what to do. Couldn't Denise Harvey's sentence have been appealed? Now that she fled, she is really in hot water water, though.