Woman Gets No Jail for Sex Crime with Boy

(Henderson, North Carolina) A 33-year-old Vance County woman, Stephanie Ann Ayscue, was arrested for engaging in sex with a 15-year-old boy after plying him with alcohol and marijuana. Ayscue was charged with statutory rape, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and obstructing justice. The obstructing justice charge resulted from paying the boy $100 to recant his testimony against her.

Yesterday, Ayscue entered an Alford plea, admitting that the evidence against her was overwhelming but not formally admitting guilt. Nonetheless, an Alford plea is viewed by the court as a guilty plea. She was sentenced to three years of probation for taking indecent liberties with a child.

Therefore, despite serious charges and loud outrage by the victim's mother, Ayscue gets no jail from Superior Court Judge R. Allen Baddour Jr. Ayscue will, however, have to endure treatment and register as a sex offender. She'll also be fined $300.

Okay, let's speculate. What would the punishment be if a 33-year-old man liquored up and smoked pot with a 15-year-old girl to have sex with her? Probation? I don't think so.