Kansas Woman Gets Probation in Babysitter Sex Case

(Columbus, Kansas) The ordeal for 23-year-old Ashley Thompson, accused of engaging in sex with her 15-year-old male babysitter on multiple occasions in two states, is over.

Cherokee County District Judge Kent Lynch sentenced Thompson yesterday to two years of probation.

So, in summary, after being originally charged with aggravated child sex felonies in two states, Thompson gets not a single day in jail. In addition to the probation sentence in Kansas, yesterday Thompson's case in Missouri was dismissed. Prosecution in both venues apparently stumbled because the victim refused to testify.

Ostensibly to put some sting in the non-punishment resolution to a child sex case, the probation was garnished with the usual bows and ribbons. Thompson will have frequent visits from her parole officer, she can't drink alcohol or use drugs and she can have no contact with her victim or anyone under the age of 18.

Arguably, the only burn to come out of the whole episode for Thompson is that she will have to register as a sex offender.

Nevertheless, this case is not unusual and, in all candor, I'm getting tired of hearing courts give the same excuses for not punishing female sex offenders who commit crimes that would put any man into a prison cell. Forget equality before the law. Women have acquired the superior status of being more equal with regard to committing sex crimes.

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Kansas Woman and Boy Babysitter
[Previous 9/12/07 post]
Last month, a 22-year-old married mother, Ashley N. Thompson, was bound over for trial in Jasper County, MO, on a charge of statutory rape for engaging in sex with a 15-year-old male babysitter.

Thompson has a court appearance scheduled for Jasper County Circuit Court on October 1st.

This week, Thompson was bound over for trial in Cherokee County, KS, on three felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child for engaging in sex with the same male babysitter, however, the offense allegedly occurred when the boy was 14.

District Judge Kent Lynch made the ruling at the conclusion of Thompson's preliminary hearing. Thompson initially had been charged with two counts of aggravated indecent liberties and one count of indecent liberties, but Lynch found there was enough evidence to bind over Thompson on the increased-severity charge on the third count.

Thompson is scheduled to be arraigned in Cherokee County District Court on September 19.

A married mother mixes with a male babysitter, resulting in child-sex charges in two states -- not a good plan. Of course, the way this type cases (woman - boy) are trending, Thompson will probably get probation.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 7/8/08]

From The Joplin Globe:

COLUMBUS, Kan. -- A Columbus woman will be sentenced Aug. 19 after pleading guilty Tuesday to a reduced charge of felony attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Ashley Thompson, 23, was bound over for trial in September 2007 on three felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The victim was the then-14-year-old boy who had worked as the baby sitter for Thompson’s children at her house in Columbus. The original charges alleged Thompson had sex with the boy on Feb. 25 and March 1 and 2, 2007, at her house in Columbus.

The original charges were dismissed when she pleaded guilty to the reduced charge as part of a plea agreement.

Thompson also faces a statutory rape charge in Jasper County, Missouri, involving the same victim.


[Update 8/19/08]

(Joplin, Missouri) Jasper County prosecutor Dean Dankelson has dismissed charges against Ashley Thompson because her victim has refused to testify against her. Dismissal allows for refiling of charges in the future if the kid changes his mind.